TRANSPORT

Aggregate

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will estimate how many tonnes of aggregate would be required for the (a) motorway widening, (b) major trunk road schemes, (c) bypasses and (d) other major local road improvement schemes implied by the Ten Year Transport Plan;
	(2)  if he will estimate how many tonnes of aggregate will be required to build the current targeted programme of improvements.

David Jamieson: The Government do not have any such estimates. Precise solutions for delivering many of the projects in the Ten Year Plan including the Targeted Programme of Improvements are not yet defined.

Aircraft Noise

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what breaches of night flight noise limits under the quota count system there have been on the Heathrow flight paths since the current night flights restrictions began.

Tony McNulty: None. I wrote to my hon. Friend about this on 20 June 2003 and I have now placed a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.

Aircraft Noise

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with international experts on International Civil Aviation Organisation noise certification; and what reasons these experts have given for the difference between locally monitored night flight noise levels and certificated noise levels in the Heathrow area.

Tony McNulty: Certification testing is carried out under strictly controlled meteorological and acoustical conditions and using defined flight path procedures. It follows that when local conditions differ so too will the noise. The extent to which currently certificated noise levels correlate with operational noise levels is one of the items being examined by a Working Group of the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The Working Group will take account of data for a large range of aircraft types that operate at night at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted (recently published in "Quota Count Validation Study: Noise Measurements and Analysis", ERCD Report 0205), as well as data from some airports in the USA and France. The UK is represented on the CAEP Steering Group and the relevant Working Group by officials from the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority respectively.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his decisions on the introduction of domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) consulted earlier this year on options for domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. We await the SRA's recommendations to Ministers in the light of the responses to that consultation.

European Council (Plutonium MOX Fuel)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional measures are being taken to protect plutonium MOX fuel in transit from Sellafield in pursuit of the fulfilment of the commitment made by EU member states on page 39, paragraph 5 of the presidency conclusions of the Thessaloniki European Council.

Stephen Timms: The Presidency Conclusions of the Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 include a declaration on tackling the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Government are satisfied that the risks of nuclear weapons proliferation arising from the manufacture of MOX fuel in the UK and its export to Europe and Japan is negligible. The Government's independent civil nuclear security regulator, the DfT's Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), is responsible for approving arrangements for ensuring the security of MOX fuel during transport. OCNS is satisfied that the arrangements in place for the transport of MOX fuel are amply robust to deal with any potential threats. It is not Government policy to disclose details of security measures taken in respect of civil nuclear materials beyond those already published in the Director of Civil Nuclear Security's annual reports made available in the Libraries of the House.

Performance Targets

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it.

Tony McNulty: Key performance targets for the Department for Transport were agreed as part of the Spending Review and the latest set were published in "Spending Review 2002: Public Service Agreements 2003–06" (Cm 5571). The Department monitors progress towards the targets along with the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit and HM Treasury, and with Defra in the case of the target it shares with that Department, and progress is reported regularly.
	Performance targets for the Department's Agencies (the Highways Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Driving Standards Agency, Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency, the Vehicle Certification Agency, and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) are set by the Secretary of State for Transport, with the assistance of the relevant Agency and its Advisory Board. The targets are monitored through liaison meetings between each Agency and the Department for Transport, and by reports to the Advisory Board of the Agency in question. In each case, progress towards targets is audited and end-year performance is reported in each Agency's published Annual Report and Accounts, which are laid before Parliament.
	The Highways Agency's targets are published in its annual Business Plan, which is laid before Parliament and also published on the Agency's website. This year's targets are at: http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/corpdocs/bus plan/2003 2004/05.htm
	These were published in a written statement on 29 April 2003, Official Report, column 5WS.
	The key targets for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency were set by the Secretary of State and published in a written statement on 10 April 2003, Official Report, column 32WS. They are also contained in the Agency's published business plan, which was published on 8 April 2003.
	The targets for the Driving Standards Agency, the Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Agency, the Vehicle Certification Agency, and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency were published in a written statement on 29 April 2003, Official Report, columns 5–8WS.
	The Secretary of State for Transport sets out the Government's goals for the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) in Directions and Guidance that he issues to the Authority from time to time. The SRA's goals are set out in its Strategic Plan 2002 and progress on the goals is reported on in its Strategic Plan 2003. Both documents are available in the Library of the House. DfT Ministers and officials monitor the SRA's progress in delivering these goals.

Railways

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the need for (a) new and (b) reconditioned rolling stock for the UK railway system; and whether he estimates train companies are making the level of investment required to meet these needs.

Tony McNulty: Decisions on the purchase of new railway vehicles and the refurbishment of existing ones are primarily matters for train operators. There is nevertheless a requirement for the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to produce a strategy for passenger rolling stock against which individual decisions can be taken. A consultation draft of its rolling stock strategy was published by the SRA on 30 June 2003.

Transport Links (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about services between London and Warrington; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Authority's final West Coast Strategy, published on 16 June 2003 with the support of the Secretary of State, envisages an hourly train service between London and Warrington. Copies have been sent to all MPs.

Transport Links (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve public transport links to Warrington.

Tony McNulty: Warrington received a total of £6.7 million for integrated transport measures as part of the 2003–04 transport settlement. Warrington's Local Transport Plan contains a public transport strategy. This sets out short, medium and long term action plans which cover developing accessibility and best value criteria for supporting bus services which cannot be provided commercially; introducing bus quality partnerships, including bus quality corridors, real time passenger information, bus priority and variable message sign strategy; implementing park and ride strategies, and working with the private sector to achieve the construction of a new bus interchange adjacent to the main shopping centre. This year's annual progress report is due with the Department in July 2003.

Underground (Masks)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions London Underground has given drivers on wearing protective masks; for what reasons; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: London Underground tell me that they have asked train drivers not to wear dust masks because all research to date has shown that there are no known health risks arising from tunnel dust. The same situation is found on all other underground systems around the world.

TREASURY

Business Support Teams

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue Business Support Teams there are; what areas the teams serve; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are 66 Business Support Teams covering the whole of the United Kingdom. Each team is made up of a number of Business Advisers who are located in one or more sites across each Area Management Unit. The Teams provide education mainly around payroll administration, but also cover aspects of self-employment, self-assessment and the construction industry.
	The Chancellor is today announcing a major review of our organisations dealing with tax policy and administration.
	The review will report to Treasury Ministers and be chaired by Gus O'Donnell, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, working closely with the revenue departments and their Chairmen.
	The Chancellor is asking that the work be completed in time to announce initial conclusions and any next steps in this year's Pre-Budget Report.
	The remit for the review will be to examine the best organisational arrangements for delivering the Government's tax objectives, both now and into the future. The review will also consider the case for changes in the law, where necessary, to allow the full benefits of particular arrangements to be realised and pay particular attention to the need to ensure the continued effectiveness of the core business of revenue collection and administration.
	Specific points the review will cover will include:
	ways to enhance service delivery to taxpayers and how these are most effectively ensured. Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise together deliver some of the most important functions for the Government, for the public, and for the business community. They have a very large number of customers in common. The review will have a particular remit to examine whether, through closer working between the revenue departments or through organisational change, costs to honest taxpayers and compliance costs to businesses can be reduced;
	the coherence of administrative systems, including information and efficient use of resources across the broad area of tax administration, taking into account future technological developments which will open new avenues for enhanced services;
	how best to ensure consistent and effective enforcement of the law against those who do not pay their fair share, particularly those who make a business out of cheating the tax system. As part of this review we will examine work being done separately by the Government on the links between tax organisations and the law enforcement agencies;
	the most appropriate structure for delivering policy advice to Ministers. Currently officials working on strategic tax policy questions are spread across three departments. A more co-ordinated approach to fiscal policy advice is desirable, and the review will look at how we can best create a focus for tax policy work; and
	a new framework for accountability for those working on tax, to set out more clearly the roles and responsibilities of all those involved. Greater clarity will provide better certainty both for officials and Ministers. The review currently being conducted by Gus O'Donnell, which was announced in the Government's response to the Fourth Report 2003 of the Treasury Select Committee, will form part of this work.
	The primary focus of the review will be making public service delivery more effective and efficient. The review will be conducted in discussion with unions and other stakeholders.
	Since 1997, Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise have worked effectively with the Treasury to play a key role in support of this Government's reforming agenda. Their record is one of success and a tribute to the staff of the revenue departments and to their Chairmen, Sir Nicholas and Sir Richard. The revenue departments do a first-rate job and this review is intended to build on their success to ensure we make the best of the resources that we have.

Contractors (Retentions)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken by Government Departments and Agencies that have removed retentions to ensure that their first line contractors do not demand retentions from their supply chain.

Paul Boateng: Information on Government Departments and Agencies retentions practices is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Contractors (Retentions)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Departments and Agencies (a) have removed retentions from their construction contracts and (b) intend to remove retentions from such contracts within the next 12 months; and what the total value was of work procured by these Departments and Agencies in the last 12 months.

Paul Boateng: Information on all Government Departments and Agencies retentions practices is not held centrally and could be only obtained at disproportionate cost. However a Supplementary Memorandum by the Department of Trade and Industry setting out practices of some central Government Departments and Agencies in respect of retentions was provided to the Trade and Industry Select Committee in November 2002. This memorandum is available on the select committee website at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmtrdind/127/127ap34.htm

Counselling Services

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are made in his Department to allow staff to access counselling services.

John Healey: All managers and staff have access to welfare services which include counselling services. These services include in-house counsellors and access to specialist external services where appropriate.

Crown Estate

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Crown Estate has spent on (a) public relations and (b) corporate hospitality in each year since 1985.

John Healey: Since 1996 the Crown Estate has spent the following sums on internal and external communications, including public affairs, the production of corporate literature, control of The Crown Estate brand and their internet and intranet websites:
	
		
			  (£s) 
		
		
			 1996–97 86,560 
			 1997–98 121,792 
			 1998–99 168,131 
			 1999–2000 193,782 
			 2000–01 214,837 
			 2001–02 207.402 
			 2002–03 255,013 
		
	
	The figures relating to corporate hospitality are as follows:
	
		
			  (£s) 
		
		
			 1996–1997 3,122 
			 1997–1998 4,074 
			 1998–1999 9,198 
			 1999–2000 12,173 
			 2000–2001 (1)135,415 
			 2001–2002 7,331 
			 2002–2003 5,937 
		
	
	(1) This figure includes costs for special receptions to mark the millennium that included tenants from England, Scotland and Wales.
	Information for earlier years is not available.

Crown Estate

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of producing the Crown Estate's annual report for each year since 1985.

John Healey: The information from 1997 onwards is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997 69,064 
			 1998 73,166 
			 1999 74,721 
			 2000 84,239 
			 2001 72,718 
			 2002 92,457 
			 2003 (2)90,000 
		
	
	(2) Estimate
	In accordance with approved accounting procedures, The Crown Estate holds financial records for only seven years.

European Economic Convergence

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he would put in place following a decision to implement a discretionary fiscal policy to stabilise the economy to prevent the ratchet effect on wages and prices described in the Treasury document Fiscal Stabilisation and EMU.

Paul Boateng: In the event of EMU entry, one of the Government's fiscal policy objectives would be to support the ECB in its objective of price stability. This would ensure that wage and price expectations in the UK were firmly anchored by the ECB's price stability objective. In addition, the Government will continue to work on enhancing the flexibility of UK labour, product and capital markets to ensure high and stable levels of employment and low unemployment.

Foundation Hospitals

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the funding system for Foundation Hospitals in England will have on the funding criteria for assessing the payments under the Barnett formula.

Paul Boateng: The funding system for Foundations Hospitals will have no implications for the calculation of public expenditure allocations made under the Barnett formula.

Illegal Trade (Animals)

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to review the sentencing guidelines for those involved in the illegal trade of animals and animal products;
	(2)  how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for involvement in the illegal trade of animals and animal products in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise is responsible for enforcement of the restrictions on import and export from or to countries outside the EU on goods covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and EU Regulations made to implement the Convention. They are not responsible for the enforcement of controls on trade within the UK or EU. Sentencing guidelines are a matter for the Lord Chancellor's Department. Since 1993, Customs have mounted 12 prosecutions relating to the illegal importation or exportation of endangered species resulting in 18 convictions.
	
		
			 Year Number of prosecutions Number of convictions 
		
		
			 1993 2 3 
			 1994 2 2 
			 1995 2 6 
			 1996 1 1 
			 2000 1 1 
			 2001 2 2 
			 2002 2 3

Mayor of London (Meetings)

Mark Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has met the Mayor of London in official meetings at the Department in each of the past three years.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor regularly meets representatives of a wide range of organisations.
	In common with previous Administrations, it is not this Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists.

Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his staff retired on medical grounds due to mental health problems in the last year.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 24 June, Official Report, column 662W.

Property Market

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the average length of lease for a small business in his calculations for stamp duty land tax in the Finance Bill.

Paul Boateng: The estimates of additional revenue from the reform of the rental element of lease duty announced in Budget 2003 are based on the distribution of lease lengths for non-residential new leases from the Survey of Property Transactions, and not merely on the average length of non-residential new leases. Transactions entered into by many small businesses are expected to be exempt from the rental element of Lease Duty under the proposed reform, which includes a £150,000 threshold.

Property Market

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in preparing the document accompanying the announcement on the euro, what estimates he has made of (a) the proportion of mortgages with fixed rates, (b) the level of mortgage debt and (c) the level of housing market volatility in the United States of America.

Paul Boateng: The EMU study Housing, consumption and EMU notes particular features of the US housing market. These issues will be considered further as part of the Miles Review announced in Budget 2003.

Research Applications

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value of applications made to the Crown Estate's Research Committee for research proposals was in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The Crown Estate Fish Farming Research Committee was established in 2001 to ensure that the allocation of The Crown Estate's reinvestment budget was both fair and transparent. Support is given to those applications that have most relevance to The Crown Estate and its customers and which, in the view of the committee, will be of greatest long-term benefit and value to the sustainable development of the industry.
	Committee representation includes industry, Government, regulators, NGOs and an independent vice chairman. The committee first met in January 2002.
	The Crown Estate has allocated £600,000 to the research committee for the first three years of its operation, from 2002–03 to 2004–05. The Crown Estate's contribution each year resulted in significant matching funding being awarded by a range of funding partners.
	The total value of applications made to the committee in each of the years it has met, and the awards made, are given in the table:
	
		
			  Financial years 
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Number of applications 26 33 
			 Value of applications £1,652,000 £1,384,000 
			 Number of applications receiving support 11 7 
			 Value of awards (3)£248,000 (4)£193,600 
		
	
	(3) Includes £70,500 commitment carried over from the previous year.
	(4) Includes £77,500 commitment carried over from the previous year.
	A spend of £23,700 has already been committed to the 2004–05 financial year. £134,700 remains to be allocated in 2004–05.

Trading Fund Model

Helen Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the turnover of each Government agency operating in a trading fund model in the most recent year for which figures are available was accounted for by (a) services provided to Government and to Government agencies, (b) services provided directly to private sector customers and (c) services provided through value-added resellers.

Paul Boateng: Details of the analysis of the turnover of trading funds into the categories requested are not held centrally. The table shows information taken from the publicly available annual reports and accounts of trading funds for 2001–02, the latest available. The accounts do not always analyse turnover into the categories requested and further information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Name Total turnover £ million Government and government agencies £ million (%) Private sector customers £ million (%) Value added retailers £ million (%) 
		
		
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratory 498.8 433.0 (86.8) 65.8 (13.2) (5)— 
			 Land Registry 342.8 — 342.8 (100) (5)— 
			 Central Office of Information 272.9 272.9 (100) — (5)— 
			 Defence Aviation Repair Agency 228.9 218.5 (95.5) 10.4 (4.5) (5)— 
			 Meteorological Office 154.8 128.3 (82.9) 26.5 (17.1) (5)— 
			 Forensic Science Service 128.1 118.3 (92.3) 9.8 (7.7) (5)— 
			 Ordnance Survey 102.6 (6)— — (5)— 
			 Vehicle Inspectorate 90.6 20.1 (22.2) 70.5 (77.8) (5)— 
			 Driving Standards Agency 88.0 — 88.0 (100) (5)— 
			 Royal Mint 79.7 54.9 (68.9) 24.8 (31.1) (5)— 
			 Hydrographic Office 53.2 9.5 (17.9) 43.7 (82.1) (5)— 
			 Patent Office 51.6 — 51.6 (100) (5)— 
			 Companies House 44.9 2.4 (5.3) 42.5 (94.7) (5)— 
			 OGCbuying. solutions 40.8 40.8 (100) — (5)— 
			 Medicines Control Agency 36.7 — 36.7 (100) (5)— 
			 NHS Estates 28.3 28.3 (100) — (5)— 
			 Fire Service College 17.5 11.4 (65.1) 6.1 (34.9) (5)— 
			 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 7.9 (6)— — (5)— 
		
	
	(5) Not applicable
	(6) No information given
	Notes:
	1. Medicines Control Agency was wound up on 31 March 2003. Its activities were transferred to a new trading fund, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency on 1 April 2003.
	2. Vehicle Inspectorate was merged with Traffic Area Network (a division of the Department of Transport) on 1 April 2003 to form a new trading fund, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.
	3. ABRO (an agency within the Ministry of Defence) became a trading fund on 1 April 2002. Unaudited accounts for 2001–02 (ie for ABRO as an agency) are available, but do not provide the information requested.

VAT Rates

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to enhance the accountability of the regulator powers for amending value added tax rates.

John Healey: The Government published some options for reform in the Treasury discussion paper "Fiscal Stabilisation and EMU" on 9 June, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

EU Agricultural Barriers

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking in concert with other Government Departments to reduce agricultural barriers within the EU before the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun in September 2003.

Ben Bradshaw: On 26 June 2003 the Agriculture Council reached agreement on reform of the CAP, which sets a new course for agriculture in Europe. It will reduce agricultural trade barriers, and puts the EU in a strong position to negotiate a successful outcome at the next round of WTO talks in Cancun in September 2003.
	The reform proposals enable decoupling of farm subsidies from production, removing the perverse incentives to over-produce. The deal enables the EU to exceed the domestic support targets that have been proposed in the WTO negotiations, reducing the distortions in world markets which the CAP has caused, and paving the way for a successful conclusion to the Doha trade round.
	In addition to the direct involvement in the negotiations of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, as well as other colleagues in Government, played a pivotal role in the agreement by lobbying their European colleagues on the importance of such reform.

Warm-front Grants

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to encourage a wider take-up of warm front grants by pensioners;
	(2)  what measures her Department is taking to provide for better targeting of warm front grants towards those in fuel poverty.

Ben Bradshaw: Warm Front is delivered through two Scheme Managers who have responsibility for marketing the scheme to eligible groups, including pensioners. The Scheme Managers work with a range of groups to reach older people who may be eligible for assistance through Warm Front. These include local community groups, national agencies and charities, Primary Care Trusts as well as targeted mailing of households.
	As part of our review of Warm Front we are considering the current eligibility criteria and targeting of the scheme.

Dioxin Emissions

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual dioxin emissions produced by (a) on-farm drum incinerators, (b) on-farm carcass incinerators and (c) waste oil burners were in each year since 1998.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 30 June 2003
	UK emission estimates are contained in the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory and are published annually. Full NAEI data is available at the NAEI website www.naei.org.uk. UK dioxin emissions were estimated at 1,184 grammes (international toxic equivalent, I-TEQ) in 1990, and to have reduced from 424 grammes in 1998 to 357 grammes in 2001, the latest date for which data are available. The NAEI does not contain data at the level of detail requested. As regards on-farm drum incinerators, the total emissions from all small-scale waste burning are estimated at 50g per year I-TEQ, but this figure includes both agricultural and non-agricultural waste burning and is subject to considerable uncertainty. The total emissions from all small animal carcase incinerators are estimated at 0.25g per year I-TEQ. These figures have all remained constant between 1998 and 2001. There are no data on emissions from waste oil burners.

Fallen Stock

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations have been received on the issue of fallen stock collection from (a) individuals and (b) organisations in Wales.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has received a number of such representations, although this is an issue for which responsibility is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales.

Fallen Stock

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the predicted unit-cost is of (a) collection and (b) disposal of fallen stock under the new scheme for farmers in Ogmore.

Ben Bradshaw: No decision has yet been taken on whether a scheme for fallen stock will proceed, or if so on what basis. Industry estimates of the costs of collection and disposal under a national scheme have been made but these are average costs put together on an aggregated basis for the UK as a whole.

Fallen Stock

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which facilities will serve the farmers of (i) Bridgend and (ii) Ogmore constituencies for (a) collection and (b) disposal of fallen stock.

Ben Bradshaw: The Fallen Stock helpline on 0845 8507070 can give advice to farmers on what collection services exist in their area. Disposal will then be a commercial matter to be arranged between the collector of the fallen stock and disposal outlets.

Fishing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what part (a) CEFAS, (b) her Department and (c) other British fisheries experts played in the EU research report issued in the week beginning 16 June 2003; and what account was taken of the impact of de-commissioning and days at sea limitation on fish stocks.

Ben Bradshaw: I take it my hon. Friend is referring to the response that the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has made to the request from the European Commission for a mid-year evaluation of recovery plans and management measures for cod. The ICES response was included in the report of the May meeting of the Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM), and was in part based on an earlier meeting of an EU Expert Group, which met in Brussels a few weeks previously. ACFM comprises a scientist from each member country of ICES (the current UK member is from Fisheries Research Services, Aberdeen, but a CEFAS observer was also present in another capacity). The EU Expert Group comprised a wide range of European experts including scientists from CEFAS, and industry representatives also attended on the first and last days. Defra officials are not involved in these scientific meetings.
	ICES evaluated in particular the regulatory measures being adopted for cod in 2003 (relating to gear, TACs and restrictions on fishing effort). ICES was unable to cover in its evaluation the effects of effort restrictions and of decommissioning in 2003 at the level of individual fleets, due to lack of appropriate data. However, it noted that the effort limitations are expected to benefit the stock by reducing discards and by helping to reduce the amount of illegal, unreported or undeclared landings.
	It should be noted that the 2003 assessment of the North Sea cod will not be carried out until September 2003, and that ICES' definitive 2003 advice on this and the latest Irish Sea and West of Scotland cod assessments will not be settled until the October meeting of ACFM.

Fishing

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent consultations she has had with (a) the Scottish Fishing Federation, (b) representatives from the Scottish fishing industry and (c) Scottish stakeholders on the protection of the Darwin Mounds.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is in regular contact with the Scottish Executive, who consult the relevant Scottish interests on all live fishing matters, and my predecessor at this Department recently responded to correspondence on this subject from the Scottish Fishermen's Federation.

Fishing

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to use the emergency powers available under the new Common Fisheries Policy framework regulation, (EC) No. 2371, in relation to the protection of the Darwin Mounds.

Ben Bradshaw: We are pursuing with the European Commission the most effective means for the protection of Darwin Mounds. The emergency powers available to the UK under the new Common Fisheries Policy Framework Regulation, (EC) No. 2371/02 are not a practicable means of protection for the Darwin Mounds as the threat to the area would not meet the necessary criteria of being both serious and unforeseen. In addition, such measures could be imposed only for three months. Emergency powers are available to the Commission where the threat is serious, can be put in place for six months, renewable for a further six months and would allow time for more permanent protection to be developed and put in place. We are therefore pressing the Commission to use these powers.

Fishing

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to designate the Darwin Mounds as a Special Area of Conservation.

Ben Bradshaw: In parallel with consultations on Regulations that will transpose the Habitats Directive offshore, formal consultations on proposals to designate the Darwin Mounds will take place over the summer. The consultations will be supported by data already provided by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Subject to the conclusion of those consultations, the site will be proposed to the European Commission later this year, once enabling legislation is in place.

Fishing

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has undertaken into the damage done to the Darwin Mounds in the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The last surveys of the area were performed by Southampton Oceanographic Centre in 1999 as part of the AFEN project, and in 2000 for DTI. These surveys, however, concentrated on identifying the mounds and providing information on their extent and biology. Information on damage to the Darwin Mounds was obtained from sidescan surveys taken during the 1999 survey.

Fishing

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) cetaceans and (b) small whales she estimates were caught in fishing nets in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the full extent of cetacean and small whale casualties caused by fishing is not available.
	The Natural History Museum, Institute of Zoology and the Scottish Agricultural College, under contract to Defra, carry out post-mortem examinations on a sample of cetaceans and small whale casualties which occur on the UK coasts. Of the 949 post mortems carried out in England and Wales on cetaceans between September 1990 and December 2002 inclusive, 389 casualties were attributable to entanglement in fishing gear. Within Scotland, there have only been 14 cases of by-catch diagnosed in stranded cetaceans between 1992–2002.
	Of the 75 post mortems carried out in England, Wales and Scotland on small whales since September 1990, 14 were due to entanglement in fishing gear.
	Since 2000 the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), under contract to Defra, has carried out a number of surveys to estimate the level of small cetacean by-catch in UK fisheries. These surveys recorded for the offshore bass fishery 53 common dolphins caught in 116 hauls in 2001 and eight common dolphins caught in 66 hauls in 2002. However, by-catch information from other member states whose vessels operate in this fishery and elsewhere in UK waters is not available so it is not possible to produce reliable estimates of dolphin by-catch deaths within the UK 200-mile limit. It is for this reason that we have been pressing the Commission for urgent action to widen observer coverage of EU fisheries and to bring forward proposals for positive action to reduce by-catch.
	Defra, along with the devolved Administrations, issued a consultation document in March this year outlining a UK by-catch response strategy. This sets out the extent of our knowledge of by-catch in UK waters and makes proposals for action to address the by-catch problem. The document has been placed in the Library of the House.

Hazardous Waste

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department takes to ensure that safety regulations for employees of operators at landfill and hazardous waste sites are adhered to.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 30 June 2003
	The Environment Agency does not regulate health and safety at work. The appropriate regulator is the Health and Safety Executive and its sponsor is the Department for Work and Pensions.

Hazardous Waste

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department takes to ensure that the activities conducted by operators at landfill and hazardous waste sites do not pose any risk to public health.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 30 June 2003
	The Environment Agency regulates activities conducted by operators at landfill and hazardous waste sites to minimise the damage to the environment and risk to human health.
	Permit applications include site-specific risk assessments, which are reviewed by the Agency as part of the permitting process. On-site activities are then considered as part of routine site inspections to ensure compliance with the relevant permit.

Hazardous Waste

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department takes to ensure that waste deposited at a landfill and hazardous waste site does not pose any risk to local water supplies.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 30 June 2003
	The Environment Agency regulates landfills and hazardous waste sites to minimise the damage to the environment and risk to human health.
	The Agency assesses permit applications, which would include a site-specific risk assessment to provide for this requirement. Where appropriate, the application will include an assessment of the risk to local water supplies and detail the protection measures proposed to manage the risk to an acceptable level. The protection measures are subsequently assessed during routine site inspections and monitoring by Agency staff.

Horticultural Research

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will make a decision on the future of Horticulture Research International Efford; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We are currently considering the future of HRI Efford and plan to make an announcement very soon.

Live Animal Transport

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent assessment her Department has made of the operation of regulations on live animal tranport in (a) the UK and (b) the EU;
	(2)  what recent discussions she has had with EU colleagues on live animal transport and associated standards.

Ben Bradshaw: The welfare of animals during transport in the EU is governed by directive 91/628/EEC (as amended) and implemented in Great Britain by the Welfare of Animal (Transport) Order 1997. We carried out a limited review of the Order in 1999 to fit in with proposals expected from the European Commission to update and improve directive. Since then, the UK and other member states have repeatedly urged the Commission to bring forward their proposals and I am pleased that Commissioner Byrne has announced that he intends to publish them before the end of July.

Local Food Chains

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help is available from central Government for the support for local food chains.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 26 June 2003
	We recognise the benefits that local food can bring and are keen to encourage the development of sustainable local food chains. Funding under the England Rural Development Programme has been used to support a range of local food chain related initiatives, including the establishment of farmers' markets and other direct sales outlets, the development of local branding initiatives and the formation of collaborative groups to market produce. We will continue to deploy our various funding schemes to encourage a flourishing local food sector. This activity will complement the measures at a regional level which the Regional Development Agencies will be implementing as part of their wider food and drink strategies.

Nitrogen Dioxide Limits

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Department has made of whether the UK will conform to EU limits for nitrogen dioxide levels in 2010.

Ben Bradshaw: A number of assessments of the attainability of the EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide have been carried out. Defra commissioned the independent scientific Air Quality Expert Group in July 2002 to undertake an overall assessment of the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in the UK in both 2005 and 2010. The Group considered all the available studies. A draft report for comment was published on 19 May 2003 (www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/aqeg/). Copies of the draft report on "Nitrogen Dioxide in the United Kingdom" have been placed in the House of Commons Library. The report concluded that, on the basis of the best current projections, in 2010 between 3 and 13 per cent. of the area of London are likely not to conform to the EU annual average limit value of 40 micrograms per metre cubed at background locations. The range reflects the span in outputs between the different models used. The report concludes that the rest of England is likely to conform to the EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide at background concentrations. The report further concludes that around 23 per cent. of the major built-up road length in London and 5 per cent. in the rest of England are likely to be above the EU annual average limit value of 40 micrograms per metre cubed in 2010.

Sheep Welfare

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the three most common welfare problems affecting sheep were in 2002; and what estimate she has made of how many sheep in the UK suffer from lameness at any given time.

Ben Bradshaw: The three most common welfare problems in sheep in order of prevalence are lameness, sheep scab and internal parasites.
	The results of a postal survey carried out by the Royal Veterinary College in 1997 suggest that there are approximately three million cases of lameness in sheep each year in Great Britain. The incidence of lameness has not significantly changed since the survey was undertaken.

TB (Red Deer)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many outbreaks of TB were recorded in red deer in (a) Devon and (b) Somerset in each of the last six years; and what action her Department has taken, and is planning to take, to eradicate TB.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no routine surveillance of TB in deer. However, there is a requirement under the Tuberculosis (Deer) Order 1989 for any deer, alive or dead, suspected of having TB to be reported to the appropriate Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM).
	The following table gives (i) the number of laboratory examinations carried out on red deer suspected of having TB and (ii) the number of cases where bovine TB was confirmed in red deer in (a) Somerset and (b) Devon, over the last six years.
	
		Bovine TB and red deer in Somerset and Devon 1997–2002(7)
		
			  (a) Somerset (b) Devon 
			  (i) Number of laboratory examinations on red deer (ii) Number of cases where M. bovis(8) confirmed (i) Number of laboratory examinations on red deer (ii) Number of cases where M. bovis(8) confirmed 
		
		
			 1997 0 0 0 0 
			 1998 5 2 1 0 
			 1999 0 0 0 0 
			 2000 1 1 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 (9)1 1 0 0 
		
	
	(7) Data extracted from Defra database on investigation of suspected TB in deer.
	(8) Mycobacterium bovis—the causative organism for bovine TB.
	(9) This case came to our notice as a laboratory isolate. Suspicion of TB in the deer carcase was not notified to Defra.
	So far in 2003 there have been two laboratory examinations on red deer in Somerset, and one in Devon. M. bovis has been isolated from one of the Somerset cases. The results of the laboratory tests on the other two cases are awaited.
	Where a deer is found to have bovine TB, the DVM may decide to increase the cattle testing frequency in the area if annual herd testing is not already in place.
	The current strategy in relation to bovine TB is based around the following five-point plan:
	Protecting human health;
	Cattle testing and controls;
	Development of a TB vaccine;
	Carrying out research into how TB is spread; and
	Carrying out a badger culling trial.
	As part of our research programme we are looking at the risk to cattle of contracting bovine TB from animals other than badgers. The research project, which is still in progress, is looking at a range of species including roe, red, sika and fallow deer in the west of England. The results are due to be published next year.
	A review of the TB strategy was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State earlier this year. Initial stakeholder consultation is expected later in the summer with public consultation in the autumn. In the meantime officials are considering a range of short-term policy options which will be subject to consultation later in the year.

Whales

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Government plan to encourage the establishment of whale sanctuaries in the (a) Pacific and (b) South Atlantic.

Ben Bradshaw: Within the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the establishment of Whale Sanctuaries requires a ¾ majority of those contracting Governments present and voting. The UK provided strong support to proposals in respect of both the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary and the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary. Through FCO we lobbied both range states and others who oppose these sanctuaries, but have so far been unable to secure the ¾ majority necessary for their adoption. Our efforts will continue, should similar proposals be submitted to the IWC next year.

Whales

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's assessment is of the impact of scientific whaling on the world's population of whales, by type.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible for the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to assess the impact of scientific whaling on the world's population of whales by type because population estimates exist for only two of the whale species targeted by Japan—Southern Hemisphere and North Pacific minke whales. However, the IWC is undertaking a major review of the former as the 1992 estimate is not considered reliable. No reliable stock estimates exist for the other whales killed under Japan's research programmes.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Animal Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which subjects animal welfare features in the National Curriculum at (a) primary and (b) secondary school level.

Stephen Twigg: Pupils in primary and secondary schools learn about animal welfare issues including understanding about the responsibility of humans to care for animals, through Citizenship education and Science. The non-statutory framework for Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship for primary schools was introduced in September 2000 and Citizenship became part of the statutory National Curriculum for 11 to 16-year-olds in September 2002. Guidance from QCA on teaching Citizenship includes units, "How the law protects animals—a local-to global study" and "Animals and Us", which support learning about animal welfare. The teaching of living things such as animals and plants is a central part of the curriculum framework for Science throughout Key Stages 1 to 4. Pupils are taught about living things in their environment which includes being taught about ways in which living things and the environment can be protected and the importance of sustainable development.

Classroom Assistants

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new classroom assistants were appointed in the UK in the 2002–03 academic year in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) special needs schools.

David Miliband: Information on new appointments is not collected centrally. The table below shows the numbers of teaching assistants in service in January for the last two years and the increase in numbers between 2002 and 2003.
	
		Full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools (January 2002 and provisional 2003 England)
		
			  Full-time equivalent number of teachingassistants(10) 
			  Primary Secondary Special(11) 
		
		
			 January 2002 69,310 19,530 14,250 
			 Provisional January 2003 79,790 22,260 16,560 
			 Increase in 2003 10,490 2,740 2,310 
		
	
	(10) Includes nursery assistants, special needs support staff, minority, ethnic pupil support staff
	(11) Includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. The increase in 2003 may not appear to equal the difference between the two years due to rounding.

Consultancies

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list by project the consultancies (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies have used on e-Government projects since 1 January 2001.

Charles Clarke: The principal consultancies used by the Department for Education and Skills since 1 January 2001 on e-Government projects in support of its e-business strategy are as follows. The list does not include consultancies on internal ICT projects, consultancies in support of specific services, or those used by non-departmental public bodies, as gathering this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Project Consultancy Activity 
		
		
			 E-Business Strategy (Customer Group Portals) PriceWaterhouseCoopers General market analysis 
			 DfES Website Market Research Central Office of Information Market research 
			 waytolearn.co.uk (Adult Learners Portal) Brahm Research design and Marketing 
			  3T Technical build 
			  CLES Manchester Ethnic Minority research 
			
			 Young Peoples Portal CAPITA Customer Research 
			  e-Volutionary.net Consultants Business Planning and Scoping 
			  Cimex Web Development 
			  The Humberside Partnership Internet Consultancy 
			
			 teachernet Teachers Portal CGEY Planning next stage of TeacherNet Consultancy 
			 skillsforemployers (Employers Portal) MORI Customer Research 
			  Eduserv Design and Development 
			  Beattie Media Promotion of Portal 
			 Higher Education Students Portal Kent Institute of Art and Design Portal development 
			 The Parent Centre (Parents Portal) Cragg Ross Dawson Customer Research 
			  BRMB International Management of customer focus groups 
			
			 governornet (School Governors Portal) Define Solutions Customer Research 
			  3T Portal design and development 
			  Iris Associates Maintenance and improvement of School Governors website

Energy Efficiency

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets his Department has for improving energy efficiency; and how he intends to achieve these targets.

Stephen Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of state for Environment, Food and rural Affairs on 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 580W.

Ethnic Minority Pupils

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the proportion is of ethnic minority pupils in (a) school sixth forms, (b) independent schools, (c) sixth form colleges, (d) general further education colleges and (e) universities.

David Miliband: holding answer 26 June 2003
	The latest available information is shown in the table.
	
		Learners in further and higher education: proportion of ethnic minority pupils(12)
		
			  Percentage of ethnic minority pupils (13) 
		
		
			 School Sixth Forms(14) 14.5 
			 Independent Schools(15) — 
			 Sixth Form Colleges(16) 16.5 
			 General Further Education Colleges(16) 13.1 
			 Universities(17) 13.8 
		
	
	(12) "Ethnic minorities" covers all ethnic groups (including mixed), except the white categories.
	(13) Number of ethnic minority pupils expressed as a percentage of pupils classified by their ethnicity.
	(14) Pupils in NC year group 12, 13 or 14 in maintained secondary schools. As at January 2003 (provisional)
	(15) Ethnicity of pupils in independent schools is not collected centrally.
	(16) Information is self-declared. As at November 2002.
	(17) Higher Education Institutions in academic year 2001/02, information is self-declared.
	Sources:
	Annual Schools' Census, coverage: England.
	Individualised Learner Record 2002/03, coverage: England.
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), coverage: UK.

Ethnic Minority Pupils

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average GCSE results for ethnic minority students progressing into (a) school sixth-forms, (b) independent schools, (c) sixth-form colleges and (d) general further education colleges were in the last 12 months.

David Miliband: holding answer 26 June 2003
	The average GCSE point score for a young person from an ethnic minority background entering a school sixth form is 52. The score is 52 for independent schools, 44 for sixth-form colleges and 34 for general further education colleges.

Job Evaluations

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what requirement there is for local education authorities to carry out job evaluations on non-teaching staff; what the purpose of such evaluations is; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of staff (a) in England and (b) in Gloucestershire who will experience (i) reductions and (ii) increases in their pay in 2003–04 as a result of job evaluations; what he estimates the average amount per employee will be; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the net cost or savings of the changes in salaries of non-teaching staff following job evaluations in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 26 June 2003
	Most local authorities, including Gloucestershire, are party to the national agreement on pay and conditions of local government staff (commonly known as the Single Status Agreement), which was negotiated by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services in 1997. The agreement commits authorities to carrying out grading reviews in accordance with equal pay legislation. This is consistent with broader government policy, which is to encourage employers to carry out pay reviews to help ensure that they meet their obligations under the legislation.
	The pay of school support staff is determined at local level: the Government believe that this is the best way of ensuring a flexible system that can respond to local needs and circumstances. My Department does not hold information on the impact of job evaluations on pay either nationally or in individual local authorities.

Level 3 Qualification

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many additional students he estimates will gain a Level 3 qualification in each of the years 2003–04 to 2009–10.

Alan Johnson: The Department does not produce projections of the number of people in the total population holding level 3 qualifications.
	As reported in "The Level of Highest Qualification Held by Young People and Adults: England 2002", the proportions attaining level 3 in Autumn 2002 were: 19-year-olds 1 qualified to at least level 3—51.6 per cent.
	21-year-olds 2 qualified to at least level 3—53.8 per cent.
	Economically active adults 3 qualified to at least level 3—48.8 per cent.
	The Department anticipates growth in level 3 attainment by 2010, supporting growth in participation in Higher Education.
	1 The highest level of attainment for the 19–21 year old group is used as a proxy for achievement at age 19.
	2 The highest level of attainment for the 21–23 year old group is used as a proxy for achievement at age 21.
	3 Economically active adults are defined here as men aged 18–64 and women aged 18–59 in employment or ILO unemployed.

Modern Languages

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received regarding the compulsory teaching of one modern language between the ages of 14 and 16.

David Miliband: Through our Green Paper '14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards' we consulted extensively on our proposals to create more choice and flexibility at Key Stage 4. Through our Language Learning pamphlet we also consulted on our aspirations for the future of language learning in this country. The overall response to the consultations endorsed our view that schools should no longer be required to teach modern foreign languages to all pupils but that schools should be required to ensure that any pupil wishing to study a modern foreign language should be able to do so.
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority are currently consulting on the detailed proposals for the implementation of this curriculum change and the other proposed changes to the curriculum at Key Stage 4.

Modern Languages

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make an assessment of whether the acquisition of a modern foreign language is (a) a generic and (b) a specialist skill.

Stephen Twigg: While we have made no formal assessment on this issue, we consider that the acquisition of a modern foreign language can be both a generic and a specialist skill, depending on a number of factors, including the age of the student, the reasons for learning a language and the level of competence required.
	We have asked the 14–19 working group chaired by Mike Tomlinson to consider the appropriate balance between generic and specialist skills in learning programmes for this age group.

Physical Education

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he plans to take in response to the recent Ofsted report concerning the quality of school PE lessons; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: The Government welcome Ofsted's report on phases one and two of the School Sport Co-ordinator partnerships. The report shows good progress in the early years of the programme: the profile of physical education (PE) and school sport has been raised; the majority of partnerships have made substantial progress; and out of hours sports activities have been widened and increased. The report will help us ensure that the expansion of the network of partnerships, to include 75 per cent. of schools in England by 2006, builds on best practice and delivers lasting benefits for children.
	An additional £459 million is being invested over three years (from April 2003) to deliver a national PE, School Sport and Club Links strategy. The aim—a joint Department for Education and Skills and Department for Culture, Media and Sport PSA target—is to have increased the percentage of five to 16-years olds who spend a minimum of two hours a week on high quality PE and school sport, within and beyond the curriculum, to 75 per cent. by 2006.
	The School Sport Co-ordinator programme is just one element of our strategy and focuses on enhancing links between schools and their local communities and increasing the quality and quantity of out of school hours sports opportunities and competitive school sport. We will raise the quality of PE teaching by delivering a professional development programme for teachers and others. This will be piloted later this year and then rolled out to all schools from April 2004.

Rural Issues

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools were involved in the Growing Schools programme in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03, broken down by region;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 18 June 2003, Official Report, column 314W, on rural affairs, if he will list the (a) partners involved and (b) types of activities undertaken by urban schools using the outdoor classroom;
	(3)  pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2003, Official Report, columns 443–44W, on rural issues, how many students (a) took and (b) passed (i) GCSE Geography, (ii) GCSE Environmental Science, (iii) GCSE Rural and Agricultural Science, (iv) GNVQ Leisure and Tourism and (v) GNVQ Land and Environment in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

Stephen Twigg: My Department has received a number of representations concerning rural and countryside education. Between September 2001 and March 2003, around 225 schools and 40 partner organisations were involved in "Growing Schools", a programme which aims to encourage and inspire all schools to use the 'outdoor classroom' as a context for learning. The Department has not collected information on a regional basis.
	Partners selected to be involved in 'the outdoor classroom' will vary, depending on the local area, whether urban or rural. It is for schools to determine what sort of activities will meet the needs of their pupils. In some areas, for example, schools involve pupils directly in planning and implementing projects to develop their school grounds as a learning resource. In others, a school might link with a city farm, field study centre or community allotment.
	The following tables set out GCSE and GNVQ achievements from 1992/93 to 2001/02 in Geography, Environmental Science, Rural Science or Agriculture and Leisure and Tourism:
	
		GCSE Achievements of 15-year-old pupils in schools 1992/93 to 2001/02
		
			  1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 20001/01 2001/02 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Number attempted Geography 
			 North East 14,439 15,405 17,971 18,606 14,526 12,830 12,229 11,981 11,665 11,139 
			 North West 28,435 29,994 33,908 35,828 37,351 32,193 32,142 30,752 30,616 28,616 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 23,156 24,070 26,560 28,533 27,099 24,605 24,556 22,428 22,863 21,111 
			 East Midlands 19,491 19,001 20,963 22,279 21,893 19,704 19,129 17,809 18,109 17,001 
			 West Midlands 24,962 26,695 30,257 31,287 29,656 27,121 26,358 24,462 24,548 23,266 
			 East of England 10,887 10,760 11,960 12,562 30,626 27,644 26,523 25,357 26,266 24,508 
			 London 25,128 26,147 28,741 30,137 29,523 27,037 26,174 24,808 25,502 24,905 
			 South East 56,022 57,200 62,606 64,036 42,878 39,431 37,940 36,038 36,471 34,688 
			 South West 23,510 24,717 26,325 26,823 26,257 25,343 24,751 23,452 24,338 23,040 
			 England 226,030 233,989 259,291 270,091 259,809 235,908 229,802 217,087 220,378 208,274 
			
			 Number achieved A*-C Geography 
			 North East 6,665 6,951 7,826 8,577 6,475 6,084 5,854 5,938 5,874 5,528 
			 North West 13,722 14,481 16,274 18,285 19,807 17,203 17,217 16,824 16,928 16,091 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 10,776 11,500 12,528 13,803 13,530 12,159 12,344 11,757 12,194 11,375 
			 East Midlands 9,423 9,551 10,614 11,896 11,674 10,748 10,755 10,307 10,930 10,227 
			 West Midlands 11,746 12,555 14,623 15,769 15,297 14,244 14,414 13,640 14,114 13,609 
			 East of England 5,605 5,623 6,225 6,735 16,733 15,795 15,570 14,921 16,139 15,098 
			 London 11,443 12,467 13,804 15,168 15,536 14,522 14,737 14,103 14,919 14,588 
			 South East 29,274 31,100 33,793 35,958 25,260 24,220 24,079 22,799 24,122 22,900 
			 South West 12,452 13,413 14,608 15,509 15,256 15,097 15,483 15,000 15,938 15,178 
			 England 111,106 117,641 130,295 141,700 139,568 130,072 130,453 125,289 131,158 124,594 
			
			 Number achieved A*-G Geography 
			 North East 13,845 14,818 17,039 17,898 13,842 12,343 11,733 11,559 11,251 10,737 
			 North West 27,298 28,861 32,286 34,662 36,145 31,245 31,107 29,845 29,637 27,756 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 22,137 23,140 25,300 27,529 26,131 23,705 23,595 21,604 21,988 20,307 
			 East Midlands 18,572 18,114 19,994 21,365 21,052 19,184 18,581 17,368 17,560 16,548 
			 West Midlands 23,921 25,457 28,922 30,125 28,587 26,286 25,512 23,753 23,768 22,621 
			 East of England 10,501 10,417 11,602 12,245 29,838 27,023 25,957 24,847 25,698 24,033 
			 London 23,425 24,690 27,321 28,648 28,328 26,124 25,192 23,961 24,707 24,176 
			 South East 53,947 55,342 60,467 62,315 41,874 38,659 37,198 35,362 35,747 34,064 
			 South West 22,757 23,984 25,554 26,208 25,723 24,880 24,285 23,059 23,888 22,656 
			
			  Number attempted environmental science(18)   
			 North East 12 — — — — — — — — — 
			 North West 0 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Yorkshire and Number 7 — — — — — — — — — 
			 East Midlands 422 — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands 15 — — — — — — — — — 
			 East of England 0 — — — — — — — — — 
			 London 3 — — — — — — — — — 
			 South East 89 — — — — — — — — — 
			 South West 17 — — — — — — — — — 
			 England 565 — — — — — — — — — 
			
			  Number achieved A*-C environmental science(18)  
			 North East 10 — — — — — — — — — 
			 North West 0 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Yorkshire and Number 7 — — — — — — — — — 
			 East Midlands 186 — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands 4 — — — — — — — — — 
			 East of England 0 — — — — — — — — — 
			 London 3 — — — — — — — — — 
			 South East 28 — — — — — — — — — 
			 South West 8 — — — — — — — — — 
			 England 246 — — — — — — — — — 
			
			  Number achieved A*-G environmental science(18)  
			 North East 12 — — — — — — — — — 
			 North West 0 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Yorkshire and Number 7 — — — — — — — — — 
			 East Midlands 415 — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands 9 — — — — — — — — — 
			 East of England 0 — — — — — — — — — 
			 London 3 — — — — — — — — — 
			 South East 75 — — — — — — — — — 
			 South West 15 — — — — — — — — — 
			 England 536 — — — — — — — — — 
			
			  Number attempted rural science or agriculture(19)  
			 North East 266 232 249 213 145 148 0 0 0 0 
			 North West 165 118 120 131 185 200 25 16 7 25 
			 Yorkshire and Number 334 248 226 251 236 215 49 52 25 89 
			 East Midlands 263 197 249 265 260 227 165 128 97 72 
			 West Midlands 200 193 208 248 239 186 173 121 146 145 
			 East of England 87 46 82 93 338 346 276 203 154 156 
			 London 27 30 16 13 9 13 13 13 0 0 
			 South East 791 746 803 736 436 383 324 307 241 202 
			 South West 497 274 373 332 294 198 156 120 100 112 
			 England 2,630 2,084 2,326 2,282 2,142 1,916 1,181 960 770 801 
			
			  Number achieved A*-C rural science or agriculture(19)
			 North East 34 52 58 34 20 19 0 0 0 0 
			 North West 60 33 38 43 51 29 1 1 1 2 
			 Yorkshire and Number 36 49 45 64 53 43 19 11 4 9 
			 East Midlands 41 43 58 69 50 32 33 23 13 15 
			 West Midlands 38 59 51 43 51 29 44 43 36 36 
			 East of England 13 11 25 29 81 77 72 65 79 66 
			 London 8 3 2 3 0 1 4 1 0 0 
			 South East 220 229 204 167 83 89 73 63 46 50 
			 South West 151 81 120 78 63 41 40 22 16 21 
			 England 601 560 601 530 452 360 286 229 195 199 
			
			  Number achieved A*-C rural science or agriculture(19)
			 North East 225 217 225 189 136 125 0 0 0 0 
			 North West 150 112 113 127 180 175 22 16 7 25 
			 Yorkshire and Number 242 210 176 216 207 191 48 47 25 81 
			 East Midlands 248 188 240 250 247 213 159 120 93 71 
			 West Midlands 184 182 198 232 229 175 163 119 143 135 
			 East of England 82 44 77 88 305 316 262 200 150 154 
			 London 25 24 16 13 8 13 13 13 0 0 
			 South East 754 702 763 677 409 368 314 294 236 198 
			 South West 474 257 365 321 285 188 152 120 95 108 
			 England 2,384 1,936 2,173 2,113 2,006 1,764 1,133 929 749 772 
		
	
	(18) Environment Science is a separate subject for exams but these were only taken in the one year as shown.
	(19) Rural science and agriculture are two different subjects but the figures are shown for those that attempted and passed either rural science or agriculture.
	
		GNVQ achievements of 15-year-old pupils in schools 1998/99 to 2001/02
		
			  1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 
		
		
			  Number passed a GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism 
			 North East 30 33 92 183 371 
			 North West 111 186 318 487 951 
			 Yorkshire and Number 19 112 145 208 527 
			 East Midlands 51 143 225 285 572 
			 West Midlands 57 120 180 250 769 
			 East of England 51 133 128 245 540 
			 London 20 76 122 393 597 
			 South East 55 177 197 425 902 
			 South West 54 189 181 297 457 
			 England 448 1,169 1,588 2,773 5,686 
		
	
	Notes:
	Table shows GNVQ data for those that achieved either a Part 1 or intermediate GNVQ in Leisure and tourism.
	Data only available from 1997/98.
	There are no passes in land and the environment.

School Funding

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the outturn spending per (a) primary and (b) secondary pupil was by each local education authority in 2001–02; and what their budgeted funding per (i) primary and (ii) secondary pupil (A) was for 2002–03 and (B) is for 2003–04.

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

School Setting

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of schools inspected by Ofsted in 2001–02 in (a) Year 7, (b) Year 8, (c) Year 9, (d) Year 10 and (e) Year 11 were set by ability in (i) grammar schools, (ii) secondary modern schools and (iii) independent schools.

David Miliband: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Sixth-Form Provision

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average entry requirement needed to progress to level three study at (a) school sixth-forms, (b) independent schools, (c) sixth-form colleges and (d) general further education colleges was in the last 12 months.

David Miliband: holding answer 26 June 2003
	The normal entry requirement needed to progress to level three study at each of the institutions is a pass at level two. Individual institutions may also take into consideration other factors which affect their policy on entry.
	Data from the Youth Cohort Study shows that the average GCSE points score for those studying level three for students from school sixth-forms was 58. For those in independent schools this was 64 points, 55 for sixth-form colleges and 47 for general further education colleges.

Specialist Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2003, Official Report, column 555W, on specialist schools, if he will list those non-selective, non-specialist secondary schools that are not defined as mainstream; and if he will describe the type of school in each case.

David Miliband: It is not possible to define non-selective, non-specialist, non-mainstream schools (i.e. special schools) as either primary or secondary as many special schools provide for children of all ages. A list of such schools which have at least one pupil in the secondary age range of 11 to 15 has been placed in the Library.

Specialist Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2003, Official Report, column 784W, on specialist state schools, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of modern foreign languages as a catalyst for whole school improvement compared to other subject specialisms.

David Miliband: The October 2001 Ofsted survey of the programme ('Specialist Schools: An evaluation of progress') looked at the Language specialism alongside the three other specialisms which were part of the programme in 2000 (Sports, Arts and Technology). The survey found that four out of five of the well-established specialist schools covered by the survey were in large measure achieving the aims of the programme and making good use of the advantages it brings. The survey said that for these schools specialist status had often been a catalyst for innovation and helped to sustain or accelerate the momentum of school improvement.

St. Anne's Primary School, Colchester

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) advice and (b) instructions he has given to Essex local education authority in respect of a Fresh Start Scheme for St. Anne's Primary School, Colchester; what plans he has to discuss proposals with (i) the hon. Member for Colchester and (ii) the relevant ward councillors; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 30 June 2003
	At the request of Essex LEA a senior DfES Education Adviser visited St. Anne's Primary School in May 2003, and provided guidance on the criteria to become a Fresh Start school. No instructions have been given to the LEA.
	Local consultation, including with Councillors, is normally a matter for Essex LEA. It is understood that meetings on the future of the school have recently been held with the local community. If, in the light of these meetings, the authority decides to submit formal proposals to create a Fresh Start school, the matter will come to the Secretary of State for determination. The hon. Member for Colchester will be consulted before a final decision is made.

8/A-level Scores

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average capped A-Level score for pupils attending (a) sixth form colleges and (b) secondary school sixth forms in England was in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement on the statistical significance of divergences between the averages.

David Miliband: Average point scores of A/AS level data are not capped and therefore the information requested for this answer is unavailable.

Student Loans

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information he has collated on the contingent liabilities to public funds arising from an increase in student loans to cover the tuition fees of students and reflecting the interest subsidy offered on these loans.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 24 June 2003
	The Department does not classify the interest subsidy as a contingent liability as the liability occurs as part of normal departmental business. We do however recognise the liability by providing for the future costs in a provision.
	The interest subsidy provision was set up to meet the costs resulting from the difference between the interest paid by students and the cost of capital on loans. The provision provides for the discounted cost of the interest over the life of the loans issued in the financial year. Each year the annual interest subsidy charge is released to the Operating Cost Statement. Listed in the table are the amounts provided in year for 2001–02, a provisional outturn figure for 2002–03 and the forecast figures for remainder of the current spending review period.
	
		£ million
		
			  Provided in Year 
		
		
			 Actual outturn 2001–02 773 
			 Provisional outturn 2002–03 919 
			 Forecast outturn 2003–04 1,067 
			 Forecast 2004–05 1,009 
			 Forecast 2005–06 1,083 
		
	
	The figures in the table do not take account of the change in the HM Treasury cost of capital rate from 6 per cent. to 3.5 per cent. which took effect on 1 April 2003. This will significantly reduce the size of the provision and the amount provided in year.
	Loans for fees will not be introduced until the 2006/07 academic year which is beyond the current spending review period. The amount of those loans, and hence the cost of the interest subsidies on them, will depend on the actual fees to be charged by institutions and students' decisions of the extent to which they wish to take up the option of deferring their fees.
	Note:
	The source of the actual data is the Resource Accounts 2001–02. The final outturn figure for 2002–03 will be reported in the 2002–03 Resource Account, which will be published in the autumn. The forecast data for 2003–04 to 2005–06 is taken from the 2003 Departmental Annual Report published in May 2003.

Students (Havering)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of A-level students from the London borough of Havering secured a place at university last year.

David Miliband: The available information shows that, in 2002, the proportion of 18-year-olds resident in Havering who obtained two or more A-levels and who were accepted onto a full-time or sandwich undergraduate course in the UK via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) was 38 per cent., compared to the national average of 61 per cent.

Teachers

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to improve the recruitment and retention of talented and well-qualified teachers.

David Miliband: In the current academic year, recruitment is over 20 per cent. higher than in 1999/2000 and more graduates have begun initial teacher training than in any year on record. In September 2000, the Government introduced 6,000 training bursaries and 4,000 Golden Hellos for priority subjects in order to encourage more graduates to train as teachers and enter the teaching profession. From September 2002, these incentives are being reinforced by the Repayment of Teachers' Loans scheme, which will also assist recruitment and retention in the subjects where they present the greatest challenge. As a result of the steps that the Government have taken, we have seen three successive years of rising recruitment to teacher training. Applications from graduates to train as teachers in 2003/04 are currently running 16 per cent. above their level at this time last year.
	As well as bringing more graduates into the profession, the Government are also seeking to encourage the most talented and well-qualified individuals to enter teaching, stay in teaching and contribute to the maximum of their potential as quickly as possible. The Government's Fast Track scheme is having a positive impact. This is the first year that Fast Track teachers have been working in schools, and one in six has already gained promotion to middle leadership. By September 2003, there will be over 500 Fast Track teachers and trainees, more than twice the number who were on the programme last year. The Government are also supporting the Teach First scheme, which will place around 200 high-achieving graduates as teachers in London schools from this September.

Teachers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on his decision to end support for teacher induction under Standards Funds.

David Miliband: The Government have ended some Standards Fund grants in 2003–04 in order to allow other priorities to be supported from the fund, without increasing the overall proportion of ring-fenced funding for local authorities and schools. From April 2003 funding for the induction of newly qualified teachers is no longer channelled through a separate Standards Fund grant.
	It is for schools and local education authorities to determine how to support induction for newly qualified teachers within the overall resources available. LEAs are free to allocate funds to schools on the basis of the number of newly qualified teachers they have in their schools.

Teachers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students entered initial teacher training courses in each of the last three years.

David Miliband: holding answer 30 June 2003
	The following table shows the total number of undergraduate and postgraduate entrants to initial teacher training in England between 2000/01 and 2002/03.
	
		Entrants to initial teacher training
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000/01 27,715 
			 2001/02(20) 29,194 
			 2002/03(20) 31,229 
		
	
	(20) These figures include entrants to Fast Track.
	Source:
	TTA ITT number census
	In addition to the number of entrants to initial teacher training courses shown above, 1,880 students started employment-based teacher training routes in 2000/01, 4,330 in 2001/02 and 4,760 so far in 2002/03.

Teachers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the continuation of key skills testing of students on initial teacher training courses.

David Miliband: holding answer 30 June 2003
	The skills tests are one of the standards which every trainee teacher has to meet. They were introduced after evidence from Ofsted indicated concern at that time about the standards of literacy, numeracy and ICT amongst newly qualified teachers. We have no present plans to discontinue the tests. Headteachers, parents and pupils rightly have high expectations of teachers, and discontinuing the tests could compromise the high standards now being attained.

Teachers

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the support he offers for the recruitment and retention of teachers in London, with special reference to the cost of living.

David Miliband: We are taking a number of measures to make London a world class centre for education. On 12 May 2003, the Prime Minister launched the London Challenge, which aims to transform standards of achievement in secondary schools in London. We appointed Tim Brighouse as the first Commissioner for London Schools with effect from 1 January. We have also funded the establishment of a London recruitment and retention unit based in the Government Office for London.
	Importantly, we have acknowledged and endorsed the STRB's recommendations that teachers in Inner London receive an increase in pay which reflects the additional cost of living in the centre of London. An experienced teacher on the maximum in 1997 in Inner London will have seen their basic pay increase by 16.5 per cent. in real terms. If they passed the performance threshold it will have increased in real terms by 32 per cent.
	We are developing a new Chartered London Teacher status to recognise the particular skills that are needed to teach effectively in London schools. The new status will recognise and reward effective practice, promote professional development and provide incentives for good teachers to stay teaching in London. This will be a core element in our work to re-establish the view that London is a sought after career posting for teachers. We intend to ask the Schools Teachers' Review Body to consider this as part of the forthcoming pay round.
	We are also continuing to work closely alongside colleagues from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to explore how best to minimise the impact of relatively higher housing costs for teachers in London. The £250 million Starter Homes Initiative aims to help 10,000 key workers into home ownership in areas of high cost housing. In 2001–02 the initiative offered support to 2,800 teachers in London and the South and the second phase in 2002–03 will fund £10,000 equity loans, benefiting around 2,000 key workers, of whom 700 will be teachers based in the Southern Counties.
	We are also working with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to explore whether and how a targeted scheme could help teachers identified as potential future leaders of London's education service to afford to buy a family home. We will announce the outcome of this work in the late summer.
	In addition, we have just announced the launch of a Well-Being Programme pilot for London which will see 15 LEAs with some 400 schools involved, helping to address some of the work-related health issues causing concern for teaching and non-teaching staff and looking to improve the work-life balance of teachers in London.
	Finally, the wide range of national reforms which the Government have introduced to assist recruitment and retention, and to raise standards, apply equally to teachers in London. In particular our radical school workforce reforms, supported by our partners on the Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group, directly address the primary reason that teachers have given for leaving the profession: workload.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Civil Servants

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how many new entrants to the Civil Service were employed in the Department in each of the last five years; and how many in each year were aged 50 or over.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 24 June 2003, Official Report, column 661W.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority.

Hilary Benn: On no occasion since January 1999 has the Department voted against a legislative proposal in the Council of Ministers.
	Information for 1997 and 1998 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting.

Hilary Benn: On no occasion since January 1999 has the Department for International Development abstained in the Council of Members on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority vote.
	Information for 1997 and 1998 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if he will list the legislation by year.

Hilary Benn: On no occasion since January 1999 has the Department for International Development been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers.
	Information for 1997 and 1998 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention.

Hilary Benn: On no occasion since January 1999 has the Department for International Development indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers and not registered a vote or abstention.
	Information for 1997 and 1998 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Performance Targets

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development in what percentage of (a) high risk, (b) medium risk and (c) low risk projects, the value for money indicator found the Department to have been successful; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Our projects and programmes are monitored on a regular basis and we assess the likelihood of their achieving the objectives set for them. The figures for the last two financial years are:
	
		
			 Financial year Percentage 
		
		
			 2001–02 
			 High risk projects judged likely to be successful -24 
			 Medium risk projects judged likely to be successful -56 
			 Low risk projects judged likely to be successful -81 
			 2002–03  
			 High risk projects judged likely to be successful -33 
			 Medium risk projects judged likely to be successful -52 
			 Low risk projects judged likely to be successful -84 
		
	
	For the purposes of this exercise, we judge projects receiving a score of 1 or 2 to be successful (ie those completely or largely achieving their objectives). Projects receiving a lower score may have partly achieved their objectives and so achieved a measure of success. One of the main aims in the monitoring and review process is to identify areas where projects are not achieving all of their objectives and take corrective action.
	The monitoring and review process is carried out for projects under implementation but we also assess projects on completion where the latest figures show that 77 per cent. were judged likely to achieve their overall purpose.
	We have a target in our 2003–06 Public Service Agreement to improve the performance of our projects in each risk category.

Performance Targets

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what the (a) objectives, (b) targets and (c) main budgetary compartments are for the (i) Africa Performance Fund and (ii) Asia Performance Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Divisional performance funds were introduced from 2000–01 as reserves to be allocated in-year by directors, largely to reward good performance but also to respond to unforeseen demands and opportunities, including urgent humanitarian needs. They provide flexibility to allocate additional funds to those countries and institutions where progress on reform enables effective use of funds in pursuit of poverty reduction.
	The table shows the total amounts budgeted:
	
		DFID performance funds -- £ million
		
			  Africa Asia 
		
		
			 2000–01 57 4.5 
			 2001–02 10 1 
			 2002–03 14 18 
			 2003–04 35 0 
			 2004–05(21) 151 65 
			 2005–06(21) 289 130 
		
	
	(21) Includes amounts provisionally earmarked from Director General Performance Fund from 2004–05.
	In Africa in 2000–01 there were two payments, one of £29 million to assist copper industry restructuring in Zambia, and another of £28 million as programme aid to support economic reform in Kenya. In 2001–02, a smaller sum was available, of which £7 million was spent on humanitarian assistance: £5 million in the DRC (through the International Red Cross) and £2 million on humanitarian projects in the Sudan. A further £0.25 million was spent on AFRICAP, an African micro-finance investment fund. In 2002–03, £10 million was spent on programme aid to Ethiopia as our bilateral relationship strengthened, £3.2 million on humanitarian work (in Angola, Sudan and the Great Lakes region), and a further £0.8 million contribution to AFRICAP. Some £35 million is available in 2003–04, much of which will be needed for humanitarian work.
	Asia's performance fund allocations were smaller than Africa's at £4.5 million in 2000–01, £1 million in 2001–02 and £18 million in 2002–03. This fund was used for various purposes including responding to humanitarian needs and a transfer to the Afghanistan programme. Asia does not have a performance fund allocation for 2003–04.
	From 2004–05 onwards, resources for performance funds rise significantly. These funds will be allocated in part before the year commences, although significant amounts will remain to be allocated in-year. They will be targeted at those countries that are currently performing less well or that are in or emerging from conflict. We are already planning high and stable levels of spending in countries with a clear commitment to, and capacity to deliver, poverty reduction.

Reproductive Health

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development when the Secretary of State plans to publish her Department's policy paper on Reproductive Health and the Millennium Development Goals, and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: We are planning to produce a public policy statement on reproductive health, which will set out our position on reproductive health and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), before the end of the year. We intend to consult with non-governmental organisations, international institutions, parliamentarians and other government departments, among others, on this paper.
	Reproductive health continues to be a priority for DFID and we remain firmly committed to the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development target of achieving access to reproductive health for all by 2015. DFID believes that population and reproductive health are fundamental to efforts to tackle poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Statistics

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what percentage of statistics used by the Department preceding overseas aid projects were in time for their effective use in (a) project design and (b) project evaluation, for the years 2000 to 2003.

Hilary Benn: DFID's Country Plans set out our overall strategy for programme and project interventions in a country. These plans focus on how we can support our partner countries poverty reduction plans, drawing on the available statistics.
	Accurate data are vital to measure progress in reducing poverty, including progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. In most poor countries, collecting reliable data for indicators such as primary school enrolment or births and deaths is a major challenge. Often data are simply not available, or they may be of a variable quality due to information gaps as a result of inefficient data collection practices. There may also be a long delay in the production of country data which can hamper developing countries' government's ability to plan and implement effective policies. In countries affected by conflict, systems for collecting data may have ceased to function at all.
	DFID has been providing technical and financial support to a number of multilateral statistical initiatives, such as the Partnership In Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21) initiative, to help build the capacity in developing countries to collect and use statistical data. Within DFID's country assistance planning system, we support our partner countries' own poverty reduction strategies to help achieve sustainable poverty reduction. DFID's Country Assistance Plans contain a statistical annex which is revised every year. We are committed to using locally available country data whenever possible, supplemented by data from international sources such as the World Bank and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to monitor progress against the country plans. This enables DFID to strengthen country statistical systems as well as improving data for measuring progress against our poverty reduction targets.

Statistics

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how much the Department has spent on the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century; what the Department's targets were for the partnership in the years (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03; and how far these have been met.

Hilary Benn: The total spent on supporting the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21) is £1.57 million.
	The UK is one of several donors providing support, partly by means of contributing to its overall budget. As a consequence, DFID did not set specific targets for what our support is expected to achieve in each separate year.
	The following sets out the PARIS21 targets over the three years as a whole, together with an indication how far they have been met. These are largely based on the results of a very positive recent evaluation, which we expect to be published shortly on the PARIS21 websiteatwww.paris21.org.
	Improved co-ordination, motivation and resources for statistical capacity building.
	Demand for improved information systems, and readiness to support them, has increased significantly in multilateral institutions and in many governments.
	To enable the Secretariat to perform its support role effectively (e.g. facilitation of national, regional and global activities and facilitation of the task team activities) The UK was a major contributor to the costs of the Secretariat, whose performance has been rated highly.
	Dissemination of best practice and maintenance of web-site—There has been some improved information exchange between donors at country level, and between UN agencies. PARIS21 is judged to have helped spread awareness among low-income countries' governments.
	Facilitation of development of governance indicators and indicators of means of implementation—Progress was always known to be difficult to achieve in this area. However, a task team has now been established to manage a large project to take this work forward.
	Based on the evidence from the recent evaluation DFID will consider whether we should continue to support PARIS21 and if so, how best to do so.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

BNFL

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which BNFL director sits on the board of Westinghouse Government Services; and what steps she takes to ensure his activities are consistent with Government policy.

Stephen Timms: This is a matter for BNFL. The department has regular meetings with BNFL senior management which cover a range of business issues including the company's US operations, and where appropriate, the consistency of these operations with Government policy.

Recycling

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will establish short-term guidelines for drafting new standards in co-ordination with the British Standards Institution and the Waste and Resources Action Programme that do not create barriers blocking the use of recycled goods; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government accepts recommendation 5 of the Strategy Unit "Waste Not Want Not" Report which states that
	"DTI should work with Defra, WRAP, industry and the British Standards Institution to assess what more can be done to promote the use of secondary resources through BSI standards".
	Significant work is already under way to introduce relevant standards—in the construction sector for example, guidance has been developed that seeks to ensure that standards support re-use or recycling of products. The guidance is being prepared for publication and use in codes of practice covering design of buildings and structures. A Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 100 for composted materials has been introduced and WRAP, which is partly funded by DTI, is working closely with BSI in contributing to the development of European standards for collected and recycled plastics and is working on a specification and good practice guide for recovered container glass. WRAP is also undertaking work which will assist organisations looking to meet European recovered paper quality standards.
	Working with stakeholders including Government, BSI will shortly be initiating the development of a robust policy that ensures that any real or perceived "barriers" to the use of recycled material are removed where this is practicable without undermining the safety or other intended outcomes of individual standards.

Recycling

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when there will be a formal review of trade and industry standards identified as presenting barriers to the use of secondary resources and recycled goods; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department is working closely with BSI (the British Standards Institution) to ensure that policies and guidelines relating to the use of recycled materials and wider environmental issues are developed and implemented within both new standards and in the revision of existing standards.
	The Department is fully aware of the environmental impacts that can be addressed through standardization and are planning to develop proactive solutions with BSI, Defra and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Veterinary Surgeons

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what percentage of prescriptions for treating animals issued by veterinary surgeons in each of the last five years were generic drugs; (2) how many prescriptions for animals were issued in each of the last five years by veterinary surgeons.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not recorded centrally. To collate such information would be at disproportionate cost.

Veterinary Surgeons

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many veterinary surgeons are practising in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of registered veterinary surgeons entitled to practise in the UK, as at 20 June 2003, is 14,024.
	The estimated number of veterinary surgeons in general practice (whole-time appointments), listed in the RCVS Report for the year ending 31 March 2003, is 11,946. This figure excludes those veterinary surgeons working in Government Service (including Defra, DARDNI and Scottish Agricultural Colleges), universities, research councils, industry and commerce and charities and trusts.

Veterinary Surgeons

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average percentage profit per prescription issued by a veterinary surgeon was in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	This Department does not record this information. However, section 6 of the Competition Commission Report on Prescription Only Medicines www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/completed/2003/veterinary/index.htm contains an estimate of the annual profits made from the sale of drugs, pet foods and accessories by an average practice in 2001. The figure is based on data from surveys carried out for the Commission.

Veterinary Surgeons

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average profit per veterinary practice on the sale of prescription only medicines was in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	This Department does not record this information. However, section 6 of the Competition Commission Report on Prescription Only Medicines www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/completed/2003/veterinary/index.htm contains indications of annual profits made by an average practice in 2001 based on surveys carried out for the report.

Veterinary Surgeons

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average profit for each veterinary practice was in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	This Department does not record this information. However, the BMRB2 survey for the Competition Commission Report on Prescription Only Medicines calculated an average net profit per partner of 82,000 for small-animal veterinary practices and £70,000 for mixed practices in 2001.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

2012 Olympic Bid

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the code of practice to be used by those associated with the Olympic bid team when lobbying for the 2012 Games.

Tessa Jowell: The bid company, and all others acting on their behalf, will be required to comply with the IOC's Rules of Conduct, applicable to cities wishing to organise the Games. A copy of the rules is available from the IOC website at: http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en report 696.pdf.

2012 Olympic Bid

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to publish accounts of the moneys spent on the 2012 Olympic bid.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic bid company will be required to publish its audited accounts.
	Moneys spent directly by DCMS and other public sector bodies in support of the bid will be accounted for and reported in the usual manner.

Community Fund

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications to the Community Fund were (a) received and (b) successful for (i) village hall projects and (ii) projects relating to asylum seekers in 2002–03.

Estelle Morris: Between March 2002 and April 2003, the Community Fund received 591 applications for projects relating to village halls and 218 for projects relating to asylum seekers. Of these, 227 village hall projects and 82 asylum seeker projects were successful.

Sports Tournaments

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are in place to assess the regenerative impact of hosting sports tournaments in the UK.

Richard Caborn: The Government are working with UK Sport, Sport England and national governing bodies to ensure that when bidding for a sporting event the costs and benefits are rigorously assessed including the regenerative impact. A detailed assessment of the regenerative impact of hosting the Olympic Games was undertaken before deciding to bid for the 2012 Games.

Theatres

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the theatres in the UK which receive a subsidy from public funds.

Estelle Morris: Over 200 theatre organisations throughout England receive funding in one form or another from Arts Council England, too many to list here. The following two lists however are those organisations within Yorkshire which receive funding through Arts Council England's Yorkshire office. The first list are those organisations that are clearly theatre (including puppetry and mime) and the second, venues that are receiving rather than producing theatres and companies and that are cross art form/ combined arts/ street arts or circus.
	Theatre
	Blah Blah Blah
	Bradford International Festival
	Chol Theatre
	Compass Theatre Company
	Faulty Optic
	Forced Entertainment
	Freehand Theatre
	Full Body and Voice
	Harrogate Theatre
	Hull Theatre (Truck)
	Interplay Theatre Company
	LBT Huddesfield
	Mikron Theatre Company
	Mimika Theatre
	Mind the....... gap
	North Country
	Northern Broadsides
	Pilot Theatre
	Proper Job
	Red ladder Theatre Company
	Sheffield Theatres
	Stephen Joseph Theatre
	Theatre in the Mill
	Theatre Royal York
	Tutti frutti
	Unlimited Theatre
	West Yorkshire Playhouse
	Receiving theatres and combined arts
	Blaize
	The Faceless Company (from 2005–06)
	The Gate
	Georgian Theatre Royal
	Greentop Community Circus Centre (from 2005–06)
	Heads Together
	Impossible Theatre
	IOU
	Leeds Metropolitan University Studio Theatre
	The Old Meeting House Helmsley
	Third Angel
	Satellites
	Square Chapel
	Wakefield Theatre Royal
	Whitewood and Flemming
	Wilson+Wilson Company

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Asbestos

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2003, Official Report, column 917W, on asbestos, if he will list the buildings which have been identified as containing asbestos.

Bill Rammell: All the FCO's buildings in central London contain some asbestos: The Main Building (Old Public Offices), Old Admiralty Building, Lancaster House and 1 Carlton Gardens. The FCO also has a compound at Hanslope Park in Buckinghamshire consisting of 26 buildings, 15 of which have been found to contain asbestos. The survey is not yet complete on one building but asbestos has not been found so far.

Burma

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts on imposing economic and trade sanctions and embargoes upon the Burmese regime; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We have long been at the forefront of EU action to maintain and increase targeted pressure on the Burmese regime. The EU Common Position was further strengthened on 16 June and we are currently discussing with EU colleagues what additional economic action is required to encourage national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy in Burma.

Colombia

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on UK policy on encouraging democratic pluralism in Colombia following recent measures taken against human rights activists, trade unionists and social protest in Colombia;
	(2)  what recent representations he has made to the Government of Colombia on the protection and human rights of members of non-governmental organisations.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 26 June 2003
	During my visit to Colombia in May I called on the Colombian Government to make clear their support for the work of civil society, and stressed that civil society needed to be part of the solution to Colombia's problems. I raised our concerns on the situation faced by all vulnerable groups in Colombian society directly with the Colombian President and his Ministers. I made clear that we were following the situation very closely and our continued support for the Government was dependent on complete respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.
	I am pleased that in a subsequent keynote speech at Bogota's Police Academy attended by senior members of the Colombian Government, police and military, President Uribe made clear that he wanted them to show respect for NGOs working in Columbia. This demonstrates, I believe, that our approach of supporting, but seeking as well to influence the Colombian Government does work.

Government Hospitality

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of foodstuffs and drinks provided by the Government Hospitality Section of the Conference and Visits Group was sourced from (a) the UK, (b) the EU, (c) third countries, (d) organic sources and (e) fair trade sources in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: Government Hospitality (GH) Section does not record the origin of food and drink served at the events for which it is responsible. However, Government Hospitality maintains a policy of encouraging all its suppliers to make maximum use of fresh British seasonal produce. English and Welsh wines are also stocked in the Government wine cellar, for which GH is responsible.

Iraq

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he was consulted in advance of the decision by the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Affairs to allow Iraqis to keep firearms; and what proposals he has to reduce the availability of firearms and ammunition in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: Ambassador Bremmer of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) decided on 24 May that only small arms may be possessed in homes and in places of business, but that they must be retained at these sites and not be taken out in public. Only authorised persons may possess small arms in public places and those authorised persons are issued with a Temporary Weapons Card by Coalition Commanders. Only Coalition forces, police, security and other forces in uniform under the supervision of the Coalition may possess automatic or heavy weapons. UK legal staff are working with the CPA and were consulted on this decision which was in compliance with UNSCR 1483. There was no need for the Secretary of State to be consulted.
	Restoring public order and a safe and secure environment is a priority for the Coalition, who have been working to disarm Iraqi civilians where possible. As a consequence of the decision on 24 May Iraqi civilians voluntarily turned in a variety of weapons under an amnesty from 1–14 June. We are working with US authorities in Washington and Baghdad to develop an effective way to carry out further work in this area.

Newsroom

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants are employed in the Department's newsroom.

Bill Rammell: There are 20 Press officers employed in the FCO's Press Office. In addition there are seven support administrative staff.

Occupied Territories

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel regarding environmental damage in the occupied Palestinian territories following the pollution of water supplies, destruction of trees and laying waste of agricultural land.

Bill Rammell: The Government have made clear to the Government of Israel our concerns about the humanitarian and environmental impact of the damage to water sources and the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land and their fruit and olive trees that has been caused by Israeli actions, in particular the construction of the 'security fence' and settlement-related building activity. We deplore the destruction of Palestinian property and have called on the Israeli Government to cease such activity.
	We have also urged the Israeli Government to avoid actions that restrict Palestinian access to water for irrigation and drinking. The UK provides development assistance to the Palestinians in the water and sanitation sector.

Occupied Territories

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel regarding the building of the security wall and fence during Phase I of the Road Map for Peace.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary conveyed his concerns about the construction of the "security fence" to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, when he visited the UK on 15 May. We have also made representations through our embassy in Tel Aviv expressing concern at the route and likely impact of the security fence.
	We fully understand Israel's need to take steps, in accordance with international law, to protect her citizens from terrorist attack, but we deplore the seizure of Palestinian land and isolation of villages resulting from the construction of sections of the fence within the west back. The quartet roadmap, while not taking an explicit view on the construction of the security fence, calls on the Government of Israel to take no actions undermining trust, including the confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian property.

Occupied Territories

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel regarding the continuation of the settlements programme during Phase I of the Road Map for Peace.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about settlements with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, on his visit to the UK on 15 May. Foreign Office officials have made representations to the Israeli ambassador, most recently on 10 June, and our ambassador in Tel Aviv raised settlements in east Jerusalem with the Israeli Interior Minister, Avraham Poraz, on 1 April.
	We fully support the roadmap's requirement that Israel should immediately freeze all settlement expansion, including "natural growth" and dismantle the outposts erected since March 2001, and welcome recent action by the Israeli authorities on the latter.

Pakistan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the case of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in Pakistan.

Chris Mullin: The British high commission in Karachi continues to seek consular access to Mr. Sheikh. They last wrote to the Pakistani authorities on 23 May 2003, asking for permission to visit him. We await their response. However, we continue to press for access to ensure Mr. Sheikh's welfare. Mr. Sheikh is believed to be a dual national. If this is the case, the Pakistani authorities are not obliged to give us consular access or information.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring his Department carries out into shipments of arms destined for Sudan.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 30 June 2003
	The Government fully support and comply with the EU arms embargo, which was implemented in 1994. The embargo was introduced as a result of the ongoing civil war in Sudan, the lack of any movement towards a peaceful settlement to the conflictand the resulting humanitarian crisis.
	The Government work to ensure the rigorous enforcement of sanctions and takes all breaches very seriously. When the Government receive information regarding an alleged breach by a third country, we raise the issue with the country concerned.
	Were we to receive allegations against a UK company, we would ensure that the information is passed to the appropriate authorities, who will consider conducting a formal investigation.

Sudan

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department plans to take regarding the recent conflict in Darfur, western Sudan.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 30 June 3003
	During his recent visit to Khartoum on 15–17 June 2003 the UK Special Representative met a group of Darfur MPs and intellectuals. He raised their concerns about the situation in Darfur with the Sudanese First Vice President. The Sudanese Government have given a commitment to ensure access for humanitarian aid but not all areas are within their control. In the longer term of arrangements being discussed at the peace talks in Machakos offer the best prospects of addressing the problems in Darfur.

Sudan

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Government of Sudan regarding reports of harassment of civil society groups in recent months.

Chris Mullin: Our Ambassador in Khartoum raised this with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19 June 2003 during the most recent EU/Sudan Dialogue meeting. The UK Special Representative raised it with the Sudanese First Vice-President on 16 June 2003 in Khartoum.

WALES

Valleys

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on the economic future of South Wales valley communities.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with the First Minister including the economic future of the South Wales Valleys where unemployment has been falling.

Ombudsman Service

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the review of Ombudsman Services for Wales.

Don Touhig: I announced on 11 March that following the overwhelming support received to the principle of unifying public sector Ombudsmen services in Wales there will now be a consultation on the powers and jurisdiction of that new Office. That consultation will begin in December.

Objective 1

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the implementation of the Objective 1 programme in West Wales and the Valleys.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Assembly First Minister about economic development matters across Wales, including Objective 1.

Customs and Excise

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Treasury Ministers about the impact on Wales of proposed changes in the organisation of anti-smuggling work by HM Customs and Excise.

Peter Hain: I have detailed discussions with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Broadband

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has held with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) National Assembly Secretaries on rolling out broadband services in North Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet with ministerial colleagues and have regular bilateral meetings with National Assembly colleagues and broadband services is one of many subjects areas discussed. I have asked BT to make a presentation at the Wales Office, and have invited all right hon. and hon. Members with Welsh constituencies and the hon. Member for Ribble Valley Mr. Evans) to attend. I hope that they will take up this opportunity to learn more about broadband in Wales.

English Hospital Treatment

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health concerning treatment of patients from Wales in English hospitals.

Don Touhig: I meet colleagues from the other Government Departments regularly and discuss a variety of topics, including health.

Public Sector Employees

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were employed in the public sector in Wales (a) in 1997 and (b) in the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: In March 1997 there were just over 300,265 people employed in the public sector in Wales, representing 29.7 per cent. of the Welsh work-force. In December 2002 there were 336,674 people employed in this sector, representing 31.3 per cent.

GM Crops

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the commercial cultivation of GM crops in Wales.

Don Touhig: None.

DEFENCE

A400M

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the status of the A400M programme;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the landing gear system procurement for the A400M; when he expects to announce the awarding of the contract for the landing gear system for the A400M; and from which suppliers the equipment will be procured.

Adam Ingram: A contract for the development and production of the A400M aircraft was signed with Airbus Military (AM) on 27 May 2003 by the Organisation for Joint Armaments Co-operation on behalf of the participating nations. The aircraft's planned In-Service Date for United Kingdom is now 2011.
	The contract is for the complete aircraft, including its landing gear system. This requires AM to select equipment and sub systems through competition on the basis of cost and capability. We and the other participating nations expect this to secure the most cost-effective solution. We understand that AM are considering landing gear system proposals from Messier-Dowty of Gloucester and Liebherr-Aerospace of Germany and that they expect to announce their selection decision by the end of this year.

Angel Group

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the properties acquired by the Angel Group and its subsidiaries from the Department and its agencies and the (a) dates and (b) costs of their acquisition.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested will take time to collate. I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Civil Servants

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new entrants to the Civil Service were employed in his Department in each of the last five years; and how many in each year were aged 50 or over.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 June 2003, Official Report, columns 657–61W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Defence Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2003 Official Report, column 510W, on defence procurement, when the various decisions were taken with regard to the forecast (a) in service date and (b) costs of the Bowman Communication System; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: In 2001, when approving the BOWMAN programme, Ministers noted that, under the schedule claimed by the prime contractor, the target in-service date would be 30 March 2004. The Company, its sub-contractors and the Department continue to work in close partnership to meet this challenging target. At the time of the ministerial approval, the forecast full resource cost of the development and manufacture phase was some £1.9 billion. This was revised during the last annual planning round to £2.0 billion. Pursuant to my answer of 20 June 2003 Official Report, column 510W the entry for BOWMAN in the table printed should read:
	
		
			 Hansard reference Project Date contract let Current forecast ISD Current forecast cost (£ billion) Estimated ISD at time contract let Estimated cost at time contract let (£ billion) 
		
		
			 110345 BOWMAN(22) 2001 2004 2.0 2004 1.9 
		
	
	(22) The BOWMAN costs refer to the Development and Manufacture Phase only.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the number and (b) the role of British troops being deployed to Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Adam Ingram: The United Nations Security Council passed UNSCR 1484 on 30 May giving a limited and specific mandate for a Interim Multinational Force to help stabilise the situation in Bunia in north east Congo pending the deployment of additional forces by the UN. The mandate expires on 1 September 2003.
	As I announced in the House on 12 June 2003, Official Report, column 849, the United Kingdom has currently offered a small contribution to the EU-led multinational force being deployed to Bunia. We have offered five staff officers for the Force Headquarters in theatre, a liaison officer to work with the UN, some Hercules transport aircraft to help deploy the multinational force and a small detachment of engineers. The role of the British element is to assist in providing staff and engineering support. However, the exact size of the element and its precise tasks will not be known until we have completed a detailed analysis of the engineering tasks to be undertaken in Bunia.

Departmental Ministers

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of Ministers in his Department in each year since 1996.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 June 2003, Official Report, column 661W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Depleted Uranium

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers from the hon. Member for North Dorset (Mr. Walter), on 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 291W, on depleted uranium (DU), whether all DU weapons will be removed; and whether the land on which they lay will be analysed before it is made available for unrestricted use by the public.

Ivor Caplin: The unused stocks of depleted uranium (DU) munitions that were available to British Forces during the conflict in Iraq have now been brought back to the United Kingdom.
	MOD scientists carried out an initial examination of tanks suspected of having been struck by DU on 22 June. These tanks have been clearly marked up pending further detailed examination by an MOD scientific team. Risk assessments will be conducted on each and decisions made on a case-by-case basis on whether to clean them up and remove them or collect them together and fence them off.
	At present, surface-lying DU fragments are being removed from the battlefield as they are discovered, and land on which UK Forces fired DU munitions will be analysed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) during its environmental survey of Iraq. In support of the survey, MOD has provided details of UK DU firing locations and has offered to provide advice on carrying out risk assessments on DU within urban areas and on long-term monitoring of DU in the environment, including water. UNEP will make further recommendations once the environmental survey is complete.
	Iraqi locals have been warned through Information Operation messages that they should not go near or touch any debris they find on the battlefield.

Executive Agencies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Strategic and Combat Studies Institute; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and how these figures compare to 2002.

Ivor Caplin: The Strategic and Combat Studies Institute is not an Agency. It is based within the Director General Development and Doctrine at Upavon, Pewsey, Wiltshire and is funded by the Ministry of Defence. As its name implies, its purpose is to encourage debate upon issues of strategy and combat, past, present and future. It does so via the publication of 'Occasional' papers, which are widely distributed to university departments, other Institutes such as the Royal United Services Institute and to relevant bodies overseas.
	The Institute is staffed by two people. There are no staff employed in Scotland.

Infections (Gulf Personnel)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of infections (a) broken down by diagnosis and (b) as a proportion of population at risk there were among service personnel deployed in the Gulf in 2003.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 251W, whether there will be an inspection and audit by inspectors independent of the coalition force in the event of evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq being found; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 June 2003, Official Report, column 525, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell).

Land Transactions

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) land acquired by his Department for military training since 1997 and (b) land released by his Department since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: Our policy is to acquire additional land only where this allows either more effective use of the estate or retention of essential training land which was formerly used under lease arrangements.
	The only major acquisition of land for military training since 1997 was that at Cape Wrath, Scotland in 1998, totalling 2,684 hectares. The following table provides detail of smaller acquisitions in the period:
	
		Smaller acquisitions of land since 1997
		
			 Land acquired Hectares acquired 
		
		
			 East Riggs, Dumfries and Galloway 0.03 
			 Belmont Street, Aberdeen (23)— 
			 Leek Training Area 2.2 
			 Llanfair P G—Anglesey 0.03 
			 Leek Camp, Staffs 3.1 
			 Nr Llangefni, Angelsey 0.5 
			 Saxa Vord, Unst, Shetland 0.032 
			 Cinque Ports 38.9 
			 Cinque Port 24.3 
			 Salisbury Plain 32.4 
			 Sennybridge 44.5 
			 DM Kineton, Warwickshire 1.9 
			 Cinque Ports 7.3 
		
	
	(23) Not available.
	Disposal figures are not available for 1997, but since 1998 the Department has disposed of some 7,000 hectares of land. Details of this breakdown could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Madrid Initiative

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Madrid Initiative agreed in Madrid in June 2003; what role the (a) Royal Navy and (b) the RAF will play in implementing the Madrid Initiative; and what countries are participants.

Geoff Hoon: The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aims to reinforce the international effort against the trafficking in Weapons of Mass Destruction and related technology, with the goal of helping prevent these weapons falling into the wrong hands, such as countries of proliferation concern and terrorists. The United Kingdom strongly supports the aims of the PSI, and participated in a meeting on 12 June in Madrid. The initiative is at a very early stage, and no decisions have yet been taken on the involvement, if any, of armed forces. Any contribution by the Armed Forces of the UK would be consistent with their obligations under international law. The countries that attended the meeting in Madrid were: the US, the UK, Australia, Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands.

Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his staff retired on medical grounds due to mental health problems in the last year.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 June 2003, Official Report, column 661W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Nimrod/Astute

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total cost increase in the Nimrod and Astute programmes was due to changes in specifications; and if he will list the specified changes.

Adam Ingram: None of the cost increases in the Nimrod and Astute programmes, announced by my noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement on 19 February, was due to changes in specifications. The cost increase in the Astute programme derives directly from the Department taking responsibility for a share of the cost increases resulting from decisions taken jointly by the Ministry of Defence and the company on the use of Computer Aided Design technology. For Nimrod MRA4, the cost increase is the MOD's contribution towards the costs required to restructure the programme, as well as including a separate amount for the conduct of an Assessment Phase study to explore the potential for capability enhancement as an "adaptable aircraft" to meet future defence requirements building upon the results of recent operational experience and the general need for more surveillance, reconnaissance and land attack capability identified in the SDR New Chapter.

Operation Telic

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many regular service personnel in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) RAF units are involved in Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Regular Service Personnel (as at 30 June)
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 Royal Navy 694 
			 Royal Marines 38 
			 Army 10,850 
			 RAF units 1,841

RAF Bases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Uxbridge.

Ivor Caplin: My predecessor made a Press Statement on 29 October 2002 and wrote to a number of local MPs notifying them of the Department's intention to offer the United States Navy the opportunity to occupy for military use the majority of the land and the buildings at RAF Uxbridge. This relocation forms part of project MOD Estate London (MoDEL) to rationalize the Department's estate in London.
	The proposal would allow the United States Navy to consolidate at RAF Uxbridge their offices currently situated on seven London sites. It is expected that many of the Service Family Houses would be retained for Ministry of Defence use, and options are being investigated for the preservation of the RAF Bunker as a site of historic interest.
	The estate offered to the United States Navy would remain the property of Her Majesty's Government, and the establishment would keep a RAF designation. The proposal is subject to separate approval procedures to serve the interests of the MOD and the United States Visiting Forces. Should the United States Navy choose not to relocate, then RAF Uxbridge would be considered for alternative use or declared surplus and available for disposal.

Unused Leave

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to compensate armed forces personnel for unused periods of leave.

Adam Ingram: Leave policy is kept under continual review by the Services. Individuals are actively encouraged to take their full leave entitlement in the year of allocation. If however, due to a high level of operational commitments personnel are unable to take their full leave entitlement there is flexibility within the system and procedures are in place to allow a proportion of the untaken annual leave to be carried forward into the next leave year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Immigration

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the fast track visa scheme on the employment prospects of British IT specialists.

Beverley Hughes: In operating the work permit arrangements, Work Permits (UK) is concerned to ensure that UK employers are able to recruit those workers with the skills that they need while protecting the interests of resident workers and that decisions to issue work permits are therefore based on a full understanding of current labour market conditions. The Information Technology, Communications and Electronics Sector Advisory Panel meets regularly to advise Work Permits (UK) on labour market conditions in the IT sector, and the information on which any assessment is based is kept under continuous review. In the light of the panel's advice, IT occupations were removed from Work Permit (UK's) Shortage Occupation List in September 2002.

Immigration

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau in Croydon provides to (a) the public and (b) legal representatives concerning the location of applications which are suffering from delays; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau (INEB) does not give out details of the locations of individual files, which would be neither meaningful nor helpful for customers. General guidance on timescales is given by INEB agents and mirrors that contained on the Immigration Nationality Directorate website, which is regularly updated. All application forms sent out by INEB also contain an information sheet, which gives the latest timescales. Agents in the Bureau do have some information about backlogs in various locations and the Bureau is presently trying to refine that information so that callers can be given clearer likely timescales for their individual applications.

Asylum Seekers

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to accommodate asylum seekers in a camp in (a) Croatia and (b) another eastern European country outside the EU; whether the occupants of such camps would have rights under the law of the country where the camp is located; what legal system would apply to the occupants; and whether he will be responsible for ensuring the rights of occupants under (i) the Convention on Refugees and (ii) the European Convention on Human Rights.

Beverley Hughes: There is no truth in the reports that the UK will process asylum applicants in a camp in Croatia. We have no current plans to process asylum applications to the UK in camps in states on the borders of the EU.
	We are exploring with partners and the UNHCR how best our ideas on new approaches to international protection can be put into practice.

Asylum Seekers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum in the UK have been made since January by Iraqi (a) Ba'ath and (b) ex-Ba'ath party officials.

Beverley Hughes: No one identified as either a current or former Ba'ath Party official has applied for asylum since January 2003.

Asylum Seekers

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned on the number of asylum seekers who commit crimes.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 30 June 2003
	There is no available evidence to suggest that asylum seekers are more likely to commit crime than any other person living in the United Kingdom.
	Details of the nationality and immigration status of suspects or of those convicted of crimes are not collated centrally as part of the recorded crime statistics and are not necessarily recorded by individual police forces.
	The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 has provision to prevent serious criminals availing themselves of the protection of the 1951 Refugee Convention and we will seek to remove such criminals from the United Kingdom wherever possible.

Capita

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees have been seconded from Capita to the Department since 1997; for how long they worked in the Department; and what positions they held.

Paul Goggins: Secondments are part of the interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: public, private and voluntary. Interchange provides opportunities for civil servants to learn new skills, widen their experience and develop ideas. It also brings in skills and experiences from other sectors.
	Over 100 staff are currently seconded into the Home Office. Since 1997, only one employee has been seconded from Capita to the Department, between 1 October 1999 to 30 September 2001. Details of the position held are not available centrally.

Common Agricultural Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	There were 117 responses to the Department's public consultation on the European Commission's draft proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. These are available to the public through the main Defra library and copies of the list of respondents has been placed in the Library of the House.
	In addition to her regular contacts with her colleagues on the EU Agriculture Council, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met representatives from various interest groups to discuss CAP reform, most recently from farming and consumer groups. My noble Friend Lord Whitty chairs regular meetings with a wide range of key stakeholder organisations to exchange views on the CAP reform proposals, and officials frequently meet similar interested organisations.

Dead Bodies (Desecration)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a review of the law in respect of desecration of dead bodies.

Paul Goggins: We will keep the need for additional legislative provisions for the protection of the dead under review.

Documents

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 3 June, Official Report, column 960, when the document he refers to will be available.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service wrote to the hon. Member on 25 June 2003, enclosing a copy.

EC Association Agreement Applications

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the performance of Integrated Casework Directorate North in Sheffield since August 2002, with particular reference to the backlog of European Community Association Agreement applications.

Beverley Hughes: Casework performance is monitored on a weekly basis. Since the establishment of the unit in Sheffield last August to help reduce casework backlogs it has handled 20,128 European Community Association Agreement applications and made decisions on 17,027 of them.

EC Association Agreement Applications

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason there is no direct phone line available for (a) the public and (b) legal representatives to contact the integrated Casework Directorate North offices in Sheffield; what assessment he has made of the implications of this for the speed of dealing with outstanding European Community Association Agreement applications; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau (INEB) was set up in December 1998 to field telephone enquiries for the whole of Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) from members of the public and legal representatives seeking general immigration advice or progress on outstanding applications. INEB telephone staff have access to the same information as caseworkers throughout IND, including those in ICD North, by means of the Case Information Database (CID). The intention in offering a call centre operation has always been to divert telephone enquiries away from caseworking staff to ensure that applications are resolved as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Callers are able to get through to INEB within one or two attempts and telephone staff have access to caseworkers in ICD North if detailed information is required for callers.
	As a result of the additional caseworking capacity based in Sheffield, the number of outstanding European Community Association Agreement applications has been reduced to about 2,000 and the majority of new applications are being decided within eight weeks of receipt.

EC Association Agreement Applications

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many European Community Association Agreement applications processed through the offices of Integrated Casework Directorate North in Sheffield have been delayed beyond the expected minimum over the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Since the Sheffield casework unit was established in August 2002, some 6,745 European Community Association Agreement applications have been delayed beyond the expected minimum period although the majority have been decided within six months. The additional caseworking capacity introduced in Sheffield has made a significant contribution to the reduction of overall after-entry casework backlogs.

Local Food Chains

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an assessment by region of what help is forthcoming by (a) regional development agencies and (b) government offices to encourage local food chains.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 26 June 2003
	I have been asked to reply.
	The level and nature of support for local food chains provided by Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and Government Offices (GOs) varies from region to region. The extent of this support will be determined by each region's priorities.
	(a) RDAs are already providing support for initiatives such as research, pilot projects, local food groups, promotional activities and farmers markets. In addition, within the context of their regional economic strategies, each RDA, working closely with the GO and other relevant interests, is developing a regional plan to help deliver the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food. Within these plans RDAs will be addressing issues such as:
	the production and supply of local produce by encouraging food hubs and shared facilities for food businesses;
	marketing of local food by linking local food producers with local retailers and tourism businesses ; and
	public procurement through the development of projects with local authorities and other public sector organisations to enable local food producers to bid for contracts on more equal terms.
	(b) Although GOs do not have funding to encourage local food chains they do carry out a number of services to support the local food sector. The GOs provide a signposting to and advice on the various sources of funding which include 'national' grants such as those under the England Rural Development Programme as well as the area based structural funds through the Leader and Objective 1 programmes. In addition, the GOs can provide a co-ordination role in sharing best practice amongst producers, processors and retailers.

Montserrat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from Montserrat were resident in the UK in the last year for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of people from Montserrat resident in the UK is not routinely recorded and is currently unavailable.
	Information is available, however, on the number of people from Montserrat who have been granted settlement and so are allowed to remain indefinitely in the UK. The most recent data available are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Number of grants 
		
		
			 1996 5 
			 1997 5 
			 1998 2,495 
			 1999 235 
			 2000 250 
			 2001 100 
		
	
	Note:Figures rounded to the nearest five.
	The sudden increase in grants of settlement in 1998 reflects those Montserratians who arrived in the UK under the Government's voluntary evacuation scheme, which was introduced due to the severity of the volcanic activity on the island. There is no information available on whether or not those people granted settlement chose to remain in the UK.

National Asylum Support Service

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance indicators and output targets are used by the National Asylum Support Service to measure the efficiency of its service to asylum seekers and other stakeholders; and how the NASS performed against these performance indicators and output targets in the latest year for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: For the financial year 2002–03 the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) had a target to increase to 70 per cent. the proportion of applications for support decided within five working days by the end of March 2003. The latest outturn figure available shows that 38 per cent. of applications for support were decided (assessed and accommodation arranged) within five working days. It has not been possible to meet the target of 70 per cent. of applications decided by March 2003 because of delays in processing the backlog of applications.
	NASS also had a target to reduce the annual cost of support asylum seekers by maintaining the actual cost at £130 per week for single asylum seekers and £280 per week for families. The latest available figures show that the actual cost of supporting single asylum seekers was £120 per week and £276 per week for families.
	In common with the rest of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, NASS is expected to respond to 95 per cent. of ministerial correspondence agreed with the Cabinet Office. During the year IND as a whole fell short of this target although there was continuous improvement in performance during the latter half of the year and further initiatives aimed at speeding up processing times are being planned. Letters from the public on general NASS issues should be responded to within 20 days of receipt. This target is being met.
	Correspondence about individual support applicants is also subject to targets for response. Targets for response depend on the nature of the correspondence. Correspondence which can be fast tracked will receive meaningful action within three working days. Correspondence raising complex issues will receive meaningful action within 10 working days. For example, an application for a single additional payment will be assessed within three working days of receipt and the applicant is notified of the outcome at this stage. Any payment approved will be included in the support applicant's regular payment within three weeks of the application being made.
	All targets are monitored to ensure compliance and any backlog is addressed to avoid unnecessary delay.

Offender Throughput

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the throughput of offenders in each probation area was in the last two financial years.

Paul Goggins: The number of offenders starting Probation Service supervision in each probation area in the last two calendar years is given in the table. This information is not available on a financial year basis.
	
		Persons starting supervision by the probation service in 2000 and 2001 by area
		
			  Number of persons 
			 England and Wales 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 4,018 3,654 
			 Bedfordshire 1,605 1,627 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,802 1,752 
			 Cheshire 2,544 2,464 
			 Cumbria 1,860 1,914 
			 Derbyshire 3,223 3,150 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3,393 3,395 
			 Dorset 1,835 1,791 
			 Durham 2,050 2,098 
			 Essex 3,684 3,667 
			 Gloucestershire 1,479 1,486 
			 Greater Manchester 12,706 11,967 
			 Hampshire 5,025 4,839 
			 Hertfordshire 2,201 2,193 
			 Humberside 3,361 3,190 
			 Kent 5,013 4,781 
			 Lancashire 5,007 4,850 
			 Leicestershire 3,194 3,083 
			 Lincolnshire 1,565 1,509 
			 Merseyside 6,080 6,208 
			 Norfolk 2,185 2,142 
			 Northamptonshire 1,771 1,746 
			 Northumbria 5,053 5,048 
			 North Yorkshire 1,946 1,806 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,504 4,282 
			 South Yorkshire 6,038 5,673 
			 Staffordshire 2,952 3,059 
			 Suffolk 1,418 1,373 
			 Surrey 1,684 1,706 
			 Sussex 3,318 3,527 
			 Teesside 2,403 2,483 
			 Thames Valley 4,844 4,777 
			 Warwickshire 1,235 1,258 
			 West Mercia 2,838 2,785 
			 West Midlands 12,346 12,806 
			 West Yorkshire 9,682 8,607 
			 Wiltshire 1,445 1,563 
			 London 21,430 21,190 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,160 1,202 
			 Gwent 1,909 2,143 
			 North Wales 2,047 1,902 
			 South Wales 4,673 4,793

Pathfinder Programmes

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when probation areas will be (a) able to get accreditation for domestic violence offender programmes and (b) eligible for funding.

Paul Goggins: The National Probation Service is developing two programmes for domestic violence offenders. One of them will be submitted for accreditation to the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel in October. If it gains accredited status it will be made available nationally, though the timing of implementation is still under consideration. The Panel will also be asked to comment on the other programme but this will require further work before it is ready to be formally submitted for accreditation.
	Once the domestic violence programmes have been accredited and implemented areas will be able to count them towards the Probation Service Delivery Agreement for programme completion which attracts funding from the National Probation Directorate.

Priority Alert Scheme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many subscribers use the City of London and Metropolitan Police Priority Alert Scheme; what the cost to (a) subscribers and (b) operators is; how many messages were issued in each case of the last five years; and for what purposes.

Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.
	In the Capital, the City of London and Metropolitan police's Priority Alert scheme now has in excess of 2,000 subscribers from London businesses. Each member pays £15 per month to subscribe a pager to receive information through the scheme. The police themselves incur no direct costs as the operators of the scheme.
	Over the last five years, the Priority Alert scheme has sent over 1.8 million messages to its subscribers. The primary use of the system is associated with warning those subscribers of suspicious situations, potential terrorist activity and potential or actual demonstrations.

Rape Helpline

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a 24-hour helpline for victims of rape.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 30 June 2003
	The Home Office is considering ways in which further support can be provided to victims of sexual crime. A national helpline for victims of rape is one of the possibilities under consideration.
	The Home Office will consider this and other possibilities with the Department of Health and other interested Government Departments. Our conclusions on how best to take these complex issues forward will be made known as soon as possible.

Remand Prisoners

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female remand prisoners were subsequently (i) acquitted and (ii) sentenced to a non-custodial penalty in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: It is not possible to give a numerical breakdown based on the data received on remands. A number of police forces either do not supply remand data or provide remand data that are incomplete. In particular, the number remanded into custody is believed to be under-recorded. However, the data received can be used to derive estimates of the proportions of male and female remand prisoners who were subsequently either acquitted or sentenced to a non-custodial penalty. The attached table shows figures on this basis for 2001.
	
		Final court outcome for persons remanded in custody at some stage in magistrates' courts proceedings1 England and Wales 2001 -- Estimated percentages(25)
		
			 Final court outcome(26)  Males Females 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Acquitted etc  21 21 
			 Convicted: of which:  78 78 
			 
			  Discharge Fine 3 5 
			   4 5 
			  Community sentence(27) 13 19 
			  Fully suspended sentence — — 
			  Immediate custody(28) 51 42 
			  Otherwise dealt with(29) 7 7 
			 Total  100 100 
		
	
	(24) Includes persons remanded in custody by magistrates during proceedings or on committal.
	(25) The estimated percentages given above may not add to the total due to rounding.
	(26) Includes estimated outcome at the Crown Court for those committed for trial or sentence.
	(27) Includes community rehabilitation orders, supervision orders, community punishment orders, attendance centre orders, community punishment and rehabilitation orders, curfew orders, reparartion orders, action plan orders and drug treatment and testing orders.
	(28) Includes detention in a young offender institution and unsuspended imprisonment.
	(29) Includes compensation, hospital or guardianship order under Mental Health Act 1983, police cells, recognizance and other.

Sentencing

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were sentenced by the courts in 2002, broken down by (a) type of disposal and (b) category of offence.

Paul Goggins: Court proceedings statistics for 2002 will be published in December 2003.

Victim Support

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what funding he has provided for Victim Support in England in each of the last six years;
	(2)  what funding he has provided for the Witness Service in each of the last six years;
	(3)  what representations he has received on the funding of Witness Support Services in England; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Home Office grant to local victim support schemes and witness services in England and Wales is channelled through the Victim Support National Office. The National Office currently retains some 12½ per cent. of the grant for central support and member services, and allocates the rest to local schemes and witness services. From October 2003, Victim Support will allocate the grant progressively according to a new funding formula, based on potential workload. This will ensure a more equitable distribution of the available grant to local schemes and witness services.
	
		£ million
		
			 Financial year Total Home Office grant to Victim Support Grant allocated to the Witness Service by Victim Support 
		
		
			 1997–98 12.682 n/a 
			 1998–99 12.682 n/a 
			 1 999–2000 17.500 n/a 
			 2000–01 18.550 3.859 
			 2001–02 25.050 7.427 
			 2002–03 29.300 (30)(4.606) 
		
	
	(30) First six months of the financial year only
	Some 20 Members have made representations about the level of Home Office funding for Victim Support in the current financial year—which has been further increased by 2.4 per cent. to £30 million. There have been no representations specifically about the funding of the Witness Service.

Young Offenders

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders were placed in intensive supervision and surveillance programmes by police authorities in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The number of young offenders who have started on the scheme between 1 June 2002 and 31 May 2003 is set out in descending order. In some of the areas the scheme has been available only partway through that period.
	
		
			 Police force area Number of young offenders started on the scheme 
		
		
			 Metropolitan 589 
			 Greater Manchester 423 
			 West Yorkshire 281 
			 West Midlands 232 
			 Merseyside 196 
			 Northumbria 183 
			 Staffordshire 155 
			 South Wales 151 
			 Lancashire 141 
			 South Yorkshire 126 
			 Cleveland 121 
			 Nottinghamshire 121 
			 Kent 77 
			 Durham 72 
			 Hampshire 72 
			 Leicestershire 69 
			 Gwent 63 
			 Avon and Somerset 62 
			 North Yorkshire 59 
			 Thames Valley 59 
			 North Wales 55 
			 Cambridgeshire 53 
			 Suffolk 48 
			 West Mercia 45 
			 Bedfordshire 30

Youth Courts

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time is from offence to completion in the youth courts for those defendants not identified as persistent young offenders.

Paul Goggins: The average time from offence to completion in the youth courts for those defendants not identified as persistent young offenders was 95 days in 2002.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Agriculture

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed (a) directly and (b) indirectly in the agricultural industry in each constituency in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: The information is as follows:
	(a) The numbers employed directly on farms in each constituency are in the following table.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Farmers and workers 
		
		
			 Belfast, East 37 
			 Belfast, North 16 
			 Belfast, South 33 
			 Belfast, West 23 
			 East Antrim 1,403 
			 East Londonderry 3,039 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 8,697 
			 Foyle 1,098 
			 Lagan Valley 2,583 
			 Mid-Ulster 6,055 
			 Newry and Armagh 6,579 
			 North Antrim 5,390 
			 North Down 357 
			 South Antrim 2,186 
			 South Down 5,907 
			 Strangford 2,273 
			 Upper Bann 1,984 
			 West Tyrone 6,613 
			 Northern Ireland 54,273 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures include farmers, partners, spouses, family and hired workers, whether full-time, part-time or employed on a casual or seasonal basis.
	(b) Details of indirect employment are not available except at Northern Ireland level. Employment in the food and drinks processing sector was estimated as 18,300 persons in 2001 and a further 4,400 persons were estimated to be employed in the agricultural supply sector.

Child Support Agency

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many complaints have been made against decisions of the Child Support Agency in the past three years.

John Spellar: Parents have a right of appeal against the decisions of the Agency in respect of the amount of child maintenance to be paid and information about the numbers of these are shown in the following table. Details of complaints to the Child Support Agency more generally are included.
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Appeal requests 96 126 148 
			 Number of complaints 175 205 173

Civil Service

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been ruled ineligible for reserved posts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service in each of the last five years on the grounds that they are Irish citizens.

Ian Pearson: The number of candidates rejected because they were not UK citizens is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998–99 1 
			 1999–2000 7 
			 2000–01 8 
			 2001–02 12 
			 2002–03 8 
		
	
	Information on Irish citizens is not held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Commemorative Plaques

Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what arrangements are in place to fund the erection of blue commemorative plaques in Northern Ireland; and how these arrangements differ from those in England;
	(2)  what the policy and criteria are for the erection of blue plaques to commemorate distinguished citizens in their native localities;
	(3)  what the average cost was of erecting a blue commemorative plaque in the last 12 months;
	(4)  what plans he has to involve interested parties in developing the blue plaques scheme to mark the diversity of Northern Ireland's cultural heritage;
	(5)  how many blue commemorative plaques were erected in each of the last five years; and, for each year, what the cost was to public funds.

Angela Smith: There are currently no arrangements in place to fund the erection of blue commemorative plaques in Northern Ireland. The Government have no plans at present to introduce such a scheme.
	I would also refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, South (Mr. Pearson) (111635).

Concessionary Travel Passes

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have taken up the new senior citizen free travel passes in each local government area.

John Spellar: The total number of Senior Smartpasses in circulation as of 23 June was 158,156, however to disaggregate this figure by local government areas could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

Organised Crime

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of links between organised crime and the funding of terrorist groups; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Organised Crime Task Force's most recent assessment is that two thirds of the organised crime groups known to the law enforcement agencies are either associated with or controlled by paramilitary organisations.
	It is not always clear, however, what proportion of the illegal profits is passed on to their organisations or retained by themselves to fund a lucrative lifestyle.
	That said, the law enforcement agencies represented on the Task Force do not tackle organised criminals or crime groups solely on the basis of their paramilitary affiliations but because of their involvement in criminal activities.
	Over the past financial year, 64 organised crime networks have had members arrested for a wide range of serious offences and members of 35 groups were successfully prosecuted for crimes including attempted murder, blackmail, armed robbery, drugs offences and counterfeit goods. 75 networks were disrupted or dismantled during the year.

Crime Prevention

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to combat robberies in (a) Fountain Lane and (b) other areas of Belfast city centre.

Jane Kennedy: Crime in Belfast city centre, including Fountain Lane, has reduced over the last year. Incidents such as till snatches, and street thefts involving handbag and mobile phone snatches have been reduced by over 60 per cent. in the first three months of 2003 when compared with the same period in 2002.
	The PSNI have identified crime "hotspot" locations and police resources are deployed accordingly. Since June 2002 a team of officers have been tasked with focusing on street gangs operating in the city centre. To date these officers have made 201 arrests for a variety of offences.
	CCTV is of considerable assistance to police in the city centre in preventing and detecting crime and CCTV operators have been instrumental in initiating some 149 arrests this year to date for offences ranging from attempted murder to robbery, theft and disorder.
	Community Beat Officers in the city centre continue to work in partnership with Belfast city centre management, Belfast Chamber of Trade and other partners to address community safety issues within the city centre. Police officers have met with traders, including those from Fountain Lane, and discussed their concerns with them. Traders in the city centre provided funding for two pedal cycles which are used regularly by officers in the city centre.
	It is anticipated that it will be possible to increase the number of Community Beat Officers in the city centre as new recruits arrive in the District Command Unit.

Decommissioning

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the state of decommissioning is in the Province.

Jane Kennedy: The LVF engaged in an act of decommissioning in 1998 and the Provisional IRA engaged in two acts of decommissioning, one in 2001 and a second in 2002.

Decommissioning

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received on decommissioning in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 21 May 2003, Official Report, column 801W.

Decommissioning

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many weapons have been handed in by (a) the IRA and (b) other terrorist groups since the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the progress of disarming of all terrorist groups.

Jane Kennedy: In 1998 the LVF carried out an act of decommissioning and the items were listed. In 2001 PIRA put a quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives, which was regarded as significant, completely beyond use. In 2002 PIRA put a varied and substantial quantity of ammunition, arms and explosive material beyond use and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has undertaken to provide an inventory of the arms to the two Governments when its task is completed. Each act has been verified by the IICD in accordance with the Governments' scheme and regulations. The Prime Minister has stated clearly that an undertaking is needed that all arms will be put beyond use through the IICD.

Demography

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by country of origin.

Ian Pearson: Monthly estimates of the population of Northern Ireland broken down by country of origin are not produced. Quarterly figures from the Labour Force Survey relating to country of birth can only be made available at an aggregate level (i.e. constituent countries of the UK, Republic of Ireland and other (as a single category)). The most comprehensive figures available are those from the 2001 Census which are noted in the table.
	
		Population of Northern Ireland by Country of Birth(2001 Census)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 All persons 1,685,267 
			   
			 Europe  
			 United Kingdom 1,615,769 
			 England 61,609 
			 Scotland 16,772 
			 Northern Ireland 1,534,268 
			 Wales 3,008 
			 UK part not specified 112 
			   
			 Republic of Ireland 39,051 
			   
			 Ireland part not specified 3,221 
			   
			 Channel Islands and Isle of Man 567 
			   
			 Other Western Europe 6,970 
			   
			 EU Countries 6,455 
			 France 750 
			 Germany 3,879 
			 Italy 288 
			 Netherlands 398 
			 Spain 364 
			 Other EU 776 
			 Non-EU countries in Western Europe 515 
			   
			 Eastern Europe 707 
			 Poland 99 
			 Other Eastern Europe 608 
			   
			 Africa  
			 North Africa 481 
			 Central and Western Africa 298 
			 Nigeria 167 
			 Other Central and Western Africa 131 
			   
			 South and Eastern Africa 2,337 
			 Kenya 228 
			 South Africa 1,301 
			 Zimbabwe 289 
			 Other South and Eastern Africa 519 
			   
			 Asia  
			 Middle East 938 
			 Cyprus 377 
			 Iran 139 
			 Other Middle East 422 
			 Far East 4,326 
			 China 756 
			 Hong Kong 1,746 
			 Japan 116 
			 Malaysia 582 
			 Singapore 271 
			 Other Far East 855 
			   
			 South Asia 1,740 
			 Bangladesh 141 
			 India 1,170 
			 Pakistan 324 
			 Other South Asia 105 
			   
			 America  
			 Canada 2,449 
			   
			 Caribbean and West Indies 198 
			 Jamaica 81 
			 Other Caribbean and West Indies 117 
			   
			 USA 3,369 
			   
			 Other North America 77 
			   
			 South America 374 
			   
			 Oceania  
			 Australia 1,544 
			 New Zealand 448 
			 Other Oceania 174 
			   
			 Other 229 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The European Union (EU) as defined on Census day (29 April 2001).
	2. 'Other' consists of persons born at sea or in the air, or with country of birth not stated.
	3. Persons born in Central America have been included in North America.

Driving Offences

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been convicted of (a) dangerous driving and (b) drink driving in Northern Ireland since January; and what the average penalty has been for these offences.

Paul Murphy: The table sets out the number of convictions and resulting court disposals in 2000 for the offences of dangerous driving and drink driving. The statistics are based on a principal offence rule, that is, where proceedings involve more than one offence dealt with at the same time, the offence recorded is that for which the greatest penalty is imposed. Where more than one disposal is given for the principal offence, only that disposal which is considered the most severe, is recorded. Thus, while both dangerous driving and drink driving are both punishable by mandatory disqualification under the Road Traffic (NI) Order 1995, the figures reflect that this is often in conjunction with a more severe penalty.
	
		
			  Dangerous driving Drink driving 
		
		
			 Number of convictions 312 2,037 
			 Court disposal   
			 Immediate custody 44 11 
			 Suspended custody 26 28 
			 Community Supervision 17 29 
			 Fine 218 1,958 
			 Other 7 11 
			
			  Average custodial sentence length6 months 4 months 
			 Average fine (£) 179 164

Employment Opportunities

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 19 May 2003, Official Report, column 594W, on manufacturing, what percentage of the jobs created in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Belfast Agreement were in (a) manufacturing industry, (b) agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing, (c) electricity, gas and water supply, (d) mining, quarrying and construction, (e) wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, (f) hotels and catering, (g) transport, storage and communications, (h) financial intermediation, (i) real estate, renting and business activities, (j) public administration and defence, (k) education, (l) health and social work and (m) other sectors.

Ian Pearson: The most reliable information available for which it is possible to provide a breakdown by industrial section refers to the period March 1998 to December 2002 and relates to employee jobs not employment levels to which the earlier reply referred (113501). The net change in employee jobs in Northern Ireland by industrial sector over that period as estimated by the Quarterly Employment Survey 1 (QES) is provided in Table 1.

Energy Policy

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will bring forward legislation on the cost of borrowing in the Northern Ireland energy market; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: A working group of economists drawn from the Department of Finance and Personnel, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (the Authority) has been examining a legislative low cost borrowing mechanism and other options for the refinancing of energy assets and contracts, with a view to energy cost reductions for the consumer. It is expected to report shortly.
	The findings of the working group and the outcomes of the consultation papers "Competition and Customer Empowerment" published by the Regulator on 4 March 2003 and "Towards a New Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland" published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on 17 April 2003 will shape future arrangements in this area.

Euro

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from business leaders in Northern Ireland concerning preparations for the euro; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Secretary of State has not received any direct representations from Northern Ireland business leaders concerning preparations for the euro. However, he has had opportunities to discuss this issue with business leaders and others at various events that he has attended.
	Also, in a recent meeting with the Northern Ireland Branch of the Confederation of British Industry I have offered a further meeting to specifically discuss the euro.

Health Trust Expenditure

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much each health trust in Northern Ireland spent on security in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Executive

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints he has received from tenants regarding sub-standard work carried out by contractors employed by the Housing Executive for the parliamentary constituency of Belfast, East.

John Spellar: The Housing Executive's Belfast District 2 corresponds most closely to the constituency of Belfast, East and, during 2002–03, three complaints about sub-standard work by contractors were investigated under the Housing Executive's Formal Complaints Procedure.

International Commission on Decommissioning

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full days the head of the International Commission on Decommissioning has spent in Northern Ireland since 1 January.

Jane Kennedy: From January 2003 to date General de Chastelain has spent at total of 36 days in Northern Ireland on Independent International Commission on Decommissioning business.

International Commission on Decommissioning

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the costs incurred by the International Commission on Decommissioning since its inception.

Jane Kennedy: The Commission's running costs are shared equally between the British and Irish Governments. Her Majesty's Government's share of the costs since the establishment of the Commission to date has been £3,256,377.

Invest NI

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Invest NI contracts awarded to PricewaterhouseCoopers, giving the value of each (a) in 2002–03 and (b) to date 2003–04.

Ian Pearson: The following table lists those consultancy contracts which have been awarded by Invest NI during the years 2002–03 and to date in 2003–04.
	
		£
		
			  Value of contract 
			 Description of contract 2002–03 To date 2003–04 
		
		
			 Development of operating guidelines  49,000 
			 Review of support for trade exhibitions  26,790 
			 Economic appraisal 44,000  
			 Recruitment exercises for staff for Invest NI 37,308  
			 Recruitment exercises for staff for Invest NI  34,260 
			 Review of Invest NI recruitment and selection process  25,000 
			 Lead advisors for the Invest NI HQ project(31) 446,500  
			 Consultancy fees for review of NI egg industry 8,695  
			 Advice on company business plan 5,875  
			 Furniture sector review 22,038  
			 Economic appraisal  17,413 
			 Scoping exercise for internal customer relations management project 36,500  
		
	
	(31) A number of sub contractors will be paid fees from this total amount.

Invest NI

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of Invest NI's accountancy and consultancy contracts have been awarded to PricewaterhouseCoopers (a) in 2002–03 and (b) to date in 2003–04.

Ian Pearson: The percentage of Invest NI's total accountancy and consultancy contracts awarded to PricewaterhouseCoopers during the year 2002–03 was 6 per cent. in terms of number of contracts and 20.5 per cent. in terms of value. To date in 2003–04 the percentage in terms of numbers is 7.3 per cent. and 10.6 per cent. in value terms.

Inward Investment

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits have been made by inward investors to (a) Down district council, (b) Newry and Mourne district council and (c) Banbridge district council in each of the last five years; how many were repeat visits; and how many of these inward investors have located enterprises in each area.

Ian Pearson: The following tables give details of Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI)/Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland (IDB) arranged visits and assisted inward investments in the Down, Newry and Mourne and Banbridge district council areas in the period April 1998 to March 2003.
	
		Invest NI/IDB arranged visits by potential investors
		
			 District council area/Visit 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Down  
			 First 2 3 4 9 1 
			 Repeat 3 0 4 2 2 
			 Total 5 3 8 11 3 
			   
			  Newry and Mourne
			 First 5 5 4 7 6 
			 Repeat 2 5 2 2 1 
			 Total 7 10 6 9 7 
			   
			 Banbridge  
			 First 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Repeat 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Total 1 0 0 1 0 
		
	
	Note:
	Repeat visits are identified as repeat visits by the potential investor to Northern Ireland and may not necessarily represent a second or subsequent visit to a particular area.
	
		Invest NI/IDB assisted inward investments by visiting investors
		
			 District councilarea 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Down 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Newry and Mourne 1 0 1 0 1 
			 Banbridge 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	Note:
	Due to the time lag between visits and investment decisions, investments in a year may not necessarily match with visits in that year.

Ministerial Meetings

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings he has had with representatives of each of the political parties represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly since 1 January 2003.

Paul Murphy: I have met with all of the political parties represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly since 1 January 2003 with the exception of representatives of the United Unionist Assembly Party.

New Deal

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people took up the New Deal in Northern Ireland in the past two years, broken down by age.

Jane Kennedy: The New Deal programme, introduced in April 1998, aims to assist people to find jobs and help them stay and progress in employment.
	The two main New Deals are the New Deal for 18–24 year olds and New Deal 25 plus.
	The number of people who have taken up these New Deals in the last two years are as follows:
	
		
			  New Deal18–24 year olds New Deal 25 plus Total 
		
		
			 2001 6,762 8,585 15,347 
			 2002 6,655 9,132 15,787 
			 Total 13,417 17,717 31,134

Orange Halls

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to de-rate Orange Halls in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Existing legislation in Northern Ireland allows a measure of rate relief on any hall where the wider community uses the facilities. Typically uses such as Sunday schools, community based youth clubs, OAP clubs, playgroups and church meetings are considered 'charitable' and apportioned out as exempt. The degree of relief available is in direct proportion to the use of the facility for charitable and broad community purposes. There is no upper limit on the amount of relief available if the relevant criteria are satisfied.
	I can confirm that existing reliefs, including that which allows exemption from rates for properties used for public, charitable and certain other functions such as 'public religious worship', are currently under consideration within the context of the Review of Rating Policy. No decisions have yet been taken. It is intended to address these issues in a policy paper to be published later this year.

Physiotherapists

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vacancies there are for physiotherapists in the health service in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: As at the 30 September 2002 there were Physiotherapy vacancies amounting to a Whole Time Equivalent of 42.63. Physiotherapy vacancies detailed by trust are given in the following table.
	
		
			 Health and Social Services (HSS) Trust WTE(32) 
		
		
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 4 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 4 
			 United Hospitals HSS Trust 10 
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 2.63 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 2.5 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 3.5 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 1 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 2 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 3 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 3 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 7 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 0 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Communty HSS Trust 0 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust (including Westcare) 0 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 0 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 0 
			 Total 42.63 
		
	
	(32) Whole time equivalent.

Police Recruitment

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Roman Catholics, (b) Protestants and (c) people of other religions applied to join the police in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: The information is set out in the table.
	No recruiting was undertaken in 1999 and 2000.
	
		
			  Roman Catholic Protestant Religion not determined Total 
		
		
			 1993 86 518 129 733 
			 1994 651 3,462 403 4,516 
			 1995 978 3,358 365 4,701 
			 1996 697 3,275 407 4,379 
			 1997 414 2,194 213 2,821 
			 1998 1,057 3,857 502 5,416 
			 1999 — — — — 
			 2000 — — — — 
			 2001 4,196 6,791 231 11,218 
			 2002 2,699 4,945 134 7,778

Police Service

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) applicants and (b) successful applicants joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland and RUC in the last five years, broken down by (a) religious denomination, (b) gender and (c) whether they were full or part-time members of the police reserve.

Jane Kennedy: Details of applicants and appointees to the police service for the last five years are as follows:
	
		RUC
		
			 1998 Applicants Appointees 
		
		
			 Male 3,442 181 
			 Female 1,974 96 
			 Non-Catholic 4,359 247 
			 Catholic 1,057 30 
			 Full time Reserve 637 91 
			 Part time Reserve 14 1 
		
	
	There was no recruitment to the police during 1999 and 2000.
	
		PSNI
		
			  Applicants Appointees 
		
		
			 Comp 1 2001   
			 Male 4,443 199 
			 Female 3,075 106 
			 Non-Catholic 4,903 152 
			 Catholic 2,615 153 
			 Full time Reserve Information unavailable 52 
			 Part time Reserve Information unavailable 1 
			
			 Comp 2(33) 2001   
			 Male 3,051 133 
			 Female 1,864 62 
			 Non-Catholic 3,025 97 
			 Catholic 1,890 98 
			 Full time Reserve Information unavailable 30 
			 Part time Reserve Information unavailable 2 
			
			 Comp 3(33) 2002   
			 Male 2,913 126 
			 Female 1,761 36 
			 Non-Catholic 3,034 79 
			 Catholic 1,640 83 
			 Full time Reserve Information unavailable 24 
			 Part time Reserve Information unavailable 2 
			
			 Comp 4(33) 2002   
			 Male 2,936 61 
			 Female 1,432 54 
			 Non-Catholic 2,893 49 
			 Catholic 1,475 66 
			 Full time Reserve Information unavailable 37 
			 Part time Reserve Information unavailable 3 
		
	
	(33) It should be noted that competitions 2, 3 and 4 are not yet completed.

Police Service

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what means have been used in recruiting police officers to facilitate the membership of the Police Service of Northern Ireland being representative of the province's population.

Jane Kennedy: The PSNI works towards a reflection of the whole community by:
	Advertising on television, radio, cinema, Nl-wide press, local press, 48 sheet billboards, adshels, shopperlites, websites and magazines; and by sending posters and information to all groups representing visible ethnic minorities;
	Outreach, by distributing PSNI recruitment brochures to all secondary and tertiary educational establishments;
	Using properly validated assessment methods that do not have an improper adverse impact on different groups within Northern Ireland;
	Appointing recruits on a 50 per cent. Catholic, 50 per cent. non-Catholic basis, in accordance with section 46 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000.

Post-primary Education

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Review Board on Post-Primary Education will report.

Jane Kennedy: The Post-Primary Review Working Group has been asked to report by the end of October 2003.

Public Sector Housing

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his latest estimate is of the number of applicants for public sector housing in each category.

John Spellar: At the end of May 2003, there were 26,924 people on the waiting list. Of these 13,448 were in housing stress including 4,136 who were accepted as homeless (those whom the Housing Executive has a duty to re-house). Since the adoption of the Common Selection Scheme in November 2000, the names of those seeking accommodation in both Housing Executive and Housing Association properties appear on one list and while applicants may specify a preference they are offered the first suitable vacancy.

School Funding

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much direct grant assistance was received by each school in the constituency of East Belfast in the last financial year.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the amount of recurrent funding received by individual schools is set out in the Local Management of Schools (LMS) Outturn Statement which is published annually by each education and library board (in respect of controlled and maintained schools) and by the Department of Education (for voluntary grammar and grant maintained integrated schools).
	Information in respect of the 2002–03 financial year is scheduled for publication in the autumn.

Sports Council Report

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the Audit Commission's report on the Northern Ireland Sports Council;
	(2)  what action he will take to implement the recommendations of the Audit Commission's report into the Northern Ireland Sports Council.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Audit Office completed an audit of the 2000–01 accounts of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland and the Comptroller and Auditor General decided to qualify his audit opinion on two issues. The Sports Council have fully accepted the audit report and appropriate corrective measures have been put in place.

Suicide

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the incidence of suicide per 100,000 of the population was in each of the last three years.

Ian Pearson: In Northern Ireland in the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively, there were 7.21, 9.69 and 8.35 deaths per 100,000 population caused by "suicide and self-inflicted injury".
	Additionally in Northern Ireland in the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively, there were 1.97, 1.31 and 1.01 deaths per 100,000 population attributed to
	"undetermined injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted".

Terrorism

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his assessment is of the threat posed by each terrorist organisation proscribed in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: All proscribed terrorist organisations pose a potential threat. That is why the Prime Minister stated last October we must now have acts of completion and a commitment from all paramilitary organisations that they will achieve their objectives through exclusively peaceful means.

Transport

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  when Road Service will publish its 10 to 15 years Forward Planning Schedule;
	(2)  whether the Government plans to introduce charges for utility companies who open up the roads;
	(3)  what the latest figures are on traffic flow on the Knock dual carriageway;

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to the questions. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Water

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which rivers and lakes in Northern Ireland are monitored for water quality; and what the regularity is of the sampling process.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland river monitoring network covers approximately 5,000 km and involves some 600 sampling points. All rivers classified as primary, secondary or minor are included in the network. Rivers are sampled monthly to assess chemical quality and are monitored for biological quality either once, twice or three times a year, depending mainly on the river size. Details of the rivers monitored can be found on the Environment and Heritage Service website at www.ehsni.gov.uk/pubs/publications/River Monitoring.pdf. I am arranging for a copy of "A River Water Quality Monitoring Strategy for Northern Ireland May 2001" to be placed in the House of Commons Library. Maps of the monitored rivers can be accessed at www.ehsni.gov.uk/environment/waterManage/quality/rivers/freshwaterGQA/mainpage. htm. Monitoring is undertaken both to assess compliance with EC Directives and to classify river water quality under national classification schemes.
	Lough Neagh, and Upper and Lower Lough Erne are designated under the EC Freshwater Fish Directive (78/659/EEC) and are monitored for compliance on chemical quality on a monthly basis. Three other Loughs (Upper and Lower Lough Macnean and Lough Melvin), although not designated, are also similarly monitored for chemical quality monthly.
	Additional non-routine monitoring is carried out on rivers and lakes in Northern Ireland for a range of purposes including development of new monitoring and classification mechanisms for rivers and lakes which will be required by the EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) for 2006.

Water

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress being made with the Water Service's water efficiency programme.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Water Service to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits Office (Chatham)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when (a) the Department and (b) the National Audit Office last audited the working practices of the benefits office in Chatham; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many complaints have been received by his Department about delays and working practices at the benefits office in Chatham.

Des Browne: holding answer 24 June 2003
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Mark Grimshaw to Mr. Derek Wyatt, dated 2 July 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the benefits office in Chatham. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	Over the last year Chatham Social Security Office received 23 complaints about Incapacity Benefit processing and 5 complaints about Social Fund processing.
	The working practices of the Chatham Social Security Office have not been audited by either the Department or the National Audit Office. However Jobcentre Plus has effective management systems in place to monitor each offices performance against targets. These systems identify where problems are occurring and ensure that action is taken to rectify problem areas.
	These systems successfully identified signs decreasing performance in Incapacity Benefit claims processing at Chatham Social Security Office. This was believed to be due to high staff turnover in the last two years resulting in a shortage of experienced staff in the office. Some work was temporarily transferred to Broadstairs office in June 2002 and to Ashford office from November 2002 to enable new staff at Chatham to receive further training. In addition some of the workload has been redistributed across the Kent District. As a result of these changes performance is improving but local managers are continuing to monitor the situation.
	All Jobcentre Plus sites are also monitored quarterly to check levels of customer service. Independent consultants assess the speed with which telephone enquiries are answered, the length of time personal callers have to wait in caller offices and the speed with which written enquiries receive a reply.

Child Support Agency

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the proposed timetable is for bringing existing clients into the new Child Support Agency scheme.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer the then Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North (Malcolm Wicks), gave the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (John Thurso) on 22 May 2003, Official Report, column 918–19W.

Euro Roadshow

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the events he plans to attend as part of the Government's euro roadshow.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 20 June 2003, Official Report, column 459W.

Offshore Workers

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he will take to ensure that offshore workers are not treated as employed for benefits purposes during periods for which they receive no remuneration.

Chris Pond: People are not entitled to jobseeker's allowance if they are engaged in remunerative work of 16 hours or more per week. If a person's hours of work fluctuate then they are averaged over a complete cycle of work. In the case of an offshore worker, any period on shore in the cycle of work is therefore included in the averaging process, whether or not they receive remuneration for that period.
	If an offshore worker has no recognisable cycle of work, then a decision maker will establish whether there is a continuing relationship between the worker and their employer. If there is, and the work averages 16 hours or more per week, then the worker continues to be classed as in remunerative work during periods when they are on shore and not physically working or being paid. We have no plans to change this.

Older People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to take forward the National Audit Office's recommendation of a strategy for older people; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary with responsibility for disabled people, my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Maria Eagle) to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Linda Perham), on 14 May 2003, Official Report, volume 405, column 300- 01W.

Pension Credit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advertising campaign his Department will implement to raise awareness of the pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: Regional and national advertising including television, radio and press as well as direct mailing will support a systematic take-on approach. The Pension Service is already writing to pensioner households to explain pension credit and invite advance applications. Around 1.8 million people who currently receive the minimum income guarantee have been told that they will be transferred automatically to pension credit ready for payments to be made from October 2003. By June 2004, all pensioner households will have been contacted.

Pensioners (Benefits)

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 7 April 2003, Official Report, column 88W, on pensioners, which benefits are included in the column headed Income related benefit savings.

Malcolm Wicks: The benefits included in the column headed Income related benefit savings are: Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Pensioners (Benefits)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the eligible pensioner non-recipients of minimum income guarantee identified in the Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 1999–2000 research were in receipt of (a) council tax benefit, (b) housing benefit and (c) either council tax benefit or housing benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is shown in the table. Estimates relate to 2000–01, for which more accurate information on receipt of minimum income guarantee is available; this is the latest financial year for which data is available.
	
		Pensioner entitled non-recipients of minimum income guarantee and receipt of benefits -- Percentage
		
			 Receipt of benefit Proportion, of pensioner entitled-non recipients of minimum income guarantee, in receipt of the specified benefit(s)  
		
		
			  
			  
			 Council tax benefit 39 
			 Housing benefit 29 
			 Council tax benefit or housing benefit 41 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Results relate to those identified as entitled non-recipients in modelling the Family Resources Survey data taking account of micro-level information indicating potential 'hidden recipients' of minimum income guarantee. In practice, a significant proportion of entitled non-recipients may not have been true entitled non-recipients, and a significant proportion of true entitled non-recipients may not have been identified in the modelling of data. Estimates of entitled non-recipients have not been adjusted for inaccuracies arising from this and for other biases inherent in estimating entitlement to minimum income guarantee. As a result figures should be treated with caution.
	2. The source of benefit receipt data is the Family Resources Survey. Reported benefit receipt may differ from actual receipt.
	3. A pensioner is defined as single adult aged 60 years or above, or a couple where at least one adult is aged 60 years or above.
	4. Estimates cover the private household population of Great Britain, excluding the full-time self-employed.

Pensioners (Benefits)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the eligible pensioner non-recipients of council tax benefit identified in the Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 1999–2000 research were in receipt of (a) the minimum income guarantee, (b) housing benefit, (c) minimum income guarantee or housing benefit and (d) either attendance allowance or disability living allowance.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is in the table. Estimates relate to 2000–01, for which more accurate information on receipt of minimum income guarantee is available; this is the latest financial year for which data is available.
	
		Pensioner entitled non-recipients of council tax benefit and receipt of benefits -- Percentage
		
			 Receipt of benefit Proportion of pensioner entitled-non recipients of council tax benefit, who were in receipt of the specified benefit(s)  
		
		
			 Minimum income guarantee 6 
			 Housing benefit 5 
			 Minimum income guarantee or housing benefit 9 
			 Attendance allowance or disability living allowance 7 
		
	
	Notes
	1. Results relate to those identified as entitled non-recipients in modelling the Family Resources Survey data: in practice a significant proportion of these may not have been true entitled non-recipients, and a significant proportion of true entitled non- recipients may not have been identified in the modelling of data. Estimates of entitled non-recipients have not been adjusted for inaccuracies arising from this and for other biases inherent in estimating entitlement to council tax benefit. As a result figures should be treated with caution.
	2. The source of benefit receipt data is the Family Resources Survey. Estimates may be affected by under-reporting of receipt of minimum income guarantee.
	3. A pensioner is defined as single adult aged 60 years or above, or a couple where at least one adult is aged 60 years or above.
	4. Estimates cover the private household population of Great Britain, excluding the full-time self-employed.

HEALTH

Fluoridation

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the potential toxic effect on the food chain of fluoride.

Melanie Johnson: The independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is currently considering the public heath implications of dietary fluoride intakes measured in the 1997 Total Diet Study. The COT is expected to complete its deliberations later this year and its conclusions will then be published.

Fluoridation

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the cost of the fluoridation of water supplies; what the estimated cost of dental fluorosis is to the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: We estimate that running costs of fluoridation schemes, which are borne by health authorities, are of the order of 40 pence per head of population per year. It has been shown that fluoridation reduces dental decay by 15 per cent. Dental fluorosis is a mottling of the teeth which may occur in a small minority of cases and which can often be removed by routine dental treatment. Information on the costs to the national health service of treating dental fluorosis is not held centrally.

Fluoridation

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are given to dentists regarding fluoride mouthwashes.

Melanie Johnson: Decisions on the prescription of fluoride mouthwashes are left to dentists' clinical judgement.

Anti-depressant Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his most recent assessment is of the safety of anti-depressant drugs;
	(2)  when his investigation into selective seratonin uptake inhibitors will recommence.

Rosie Winterton: As with all medicines, the safety of antidepressant drugs is continually monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, with independent expert advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM).
	A new expert working group of the CSM has been established to review further the safety of antidepressants of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. The group had its first meeting on 23 May 2003 and has had subsequent meetings on 4 and 20 June.

Anti-depressant Drugs

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the safety of the drug Seroxat.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for public health, my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears), on 10 June 2003, Official Report, column 42WS.

Anti-depressant Drugs

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations his Department is undertaking concerning the use of the drug seroxat.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 3 June 2003
	A new expert group of the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) has been convened to further review the safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including seroxat and to ensure that the advice in the product information for both patients and prescribers is optimal for the safe use of these products. As part of its initial considerations, the group has advised on strengthened warnings on side effects and withdrawal reactions for inclusion in the patient information leaflet on Seroxat.
	This group has been asked to examine what implications, if any, the CSM's recent advice on the use of Seroxat in children has for the use of Seroxat in adults and for other SSRIs.
	The advice of CSM, most recently in 2001, is that the benefits of Seroxat, when used in adults for licensed indications, outweigh the risks. Regulatory authorities world-wide have also taken a similar position.

Bridlington Hospital

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health [pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2003, Official Report, column 425W], on Bridlington Hospital, if he will make it his policy to maintain the number of accredited senior house officer training posts at Bridlington Hospital for the foreseeable future.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 2 July 2003
	The number of training posts located at a specific hospital site is a matter for local decision.

Communicable Diseases

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was to the national health service of treating (a) TB, (b) hepatitis B and (c) HIV and AIDS in each of the last five years.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not available centrally.
	The sums allocated by the Department of Health to the national health service for HIV/AIDS treatment and care in England for the last five years for which funds were separately identified are shown in the table.
	
		£ millions
		
			  HIV treatment allocation 
		
		
			 1997–98 199.7 
			 1998–99 228.2 
			 1999–2000 234.0 
			 2000–01(34) 184.3 
			 2001–02 223.5 
		
	
	(34) After expenditure of £50.4 million on genitourinary medicine is disaggregated.
	From April 2002, the special allocation for HIV treatment and care was added to NHS baseline funding according to the target distribution of HIV across England, and is no longer separately identified.

Community Health Councils/Patients Forums

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether community health councils will continue to be fully funded until their closure; when their closure will take effect; and what the impact of the closure will be on (a) patients and (b) staff of community health councils.

Rosie Winterton: Community health councils (CHCs) will be funded until they are abolished on 1 December 2003. From that date the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will have established the new patients' forums, one in each trust. Much of the new and improved system of patient and public involvement is already in place.
	CHC staff are being supported to find alternative employment in the national health service and this support is based on a human resources framework (HRF) agreed with the trade unions. This provides staff with clearing houses, training and counselling support. The Department of Health continues to work with the trades unions on the delivery of the agreed HRF and this work will continue to the abolition date.

Cystic Fibrosis

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Government support for projects to develop gene therapy relating to cystic fibrosis.

Melanie Johnson: We have committed a total of £5.5 million to develop treatments for single gene disorders; £2.5 million of which is specifically earmarked for cystic fibrosis (CF) gene therapy clinical research. An investment of up to £4 million will also provide access to facilities for gene therapy vector production for National Health Service and other public sector researchers. The United Kingdom CF gene therapy research community will be eligible to benefit from this investment.

Drug Rehabilitation Centres

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed in drug rehabilitation centres, how much they are paid; what percentage of staff are ex-drug addicts; and if he will make a statement on the role played by advice of ex-drug addicts.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not available centrally.

Drug Rehabilitation Centres

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance is available to non-publicly run drug rehab centres; what coordination there is with other drug rehabilitation centres; and what assessment has been made of the success rate of non-Government run centres.

Melanie Johnson: The National Treatment Agency oversees the pooled drug treatment budget which stands this year at £236 million, an increase of 23 per cent. on last year's allocation. This money is allocated to drug action teams, which make the decisions on how funding on statutory and non-Government centres is spent at a local level.
	In addition, both statutory and non-Government centres also receive funds from mainstream primary care trust and social services funds. This is expenditure based on local needs and local decision making, so details are not available centrally.
	The National Treatment Outcomes Research Study (NTORS) looked at residential rehabilitation services, which are primarily run by non-Government centres. NTORS showed that clients entering residential rehabilitation and inpatient programmes made substantial improvements in terms of abstinence from, and reduction of, illicit drug misuse, criminal activity, levels of injecting and psychological health.

Electronic Prescribing

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the period of the pilot projects on electronic prescribing.

Rosie Winterton: The electronic transmission of prescriptions pilots have demonstrated that prescriptions can be transmitted electronically in an accurate and secure manner, and now having served their intended purpose they will be formally closed with effect from the end of June 2003. In order to ensure that patients do not experience difficulties in obtaining their prescriptions and minimise inconvenience to healthcare professionals an appropriate timeframe for ceasing the processing of electronic prescriptions will be agreed with the remaining pilots.
	The pilots have been independently evaluated and this information is being used by the National Programme for National Health Service Information Technology to develop a sustainable, national prescription service.

Euro Roadshow

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the events he plans to attend as part of the Government's euro roadshow.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 20 June 2003, Official Report, columns 459–60W.

Food Supplements

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from (a) right hon. and (b) hon. Members about safe nutrients missing from (i) the lists of permitted nutrients set out in Annex 1 and Annex 2 of the Food Supplements Directive and (ii) the schedules to the Food Supplements (England) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: There have been many recent representations relating to the Food Supplements Directive and the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, which express concern over the lists of permitted nutrients in the Annexes to the Directive and the Schedules to the Regulations. These representations have taken the form of correspondence, parliamentary questions, early day motions and the tabling of prayers against the Regulations.
	The Government are concerned about this issue and are pressing for urgent, substantive discussions with the European Food Safety Authority on dossier requirements for additions to the permitted lists.

Food Supplements

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources are being allocated by his Department and the Food Standards Agency to delivering his policy objectives for missing nutrients and maximum permitted levels for nutrients within the provision of the Food Supplements Directive; and if he will make a statement

Melanie Johnson: The issues of missing nutrients and maximum permitted levels for nutrients within the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive are just two of a number of policy issues being addressed by the food labelling and standards (FLS) division of the Food Standards Agency. The FLS division has a budget for 2003–04 of £3.187 million and a complement of 37 full-time equivalent staff. The FLS divisional business plan lists work on food supplements as high priority.

Food Supplements

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from Holland and Barrett retail in relation to the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive and the Food Supplements (England) Regulations; and what response he has made to those representations.

Melanie Johnson: Holland and Barrett retail wrote to the then Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) recently, expressing concern over the impact of the Directive and the implementing Regulations.
	The then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears), responded, explaining that the Government recognised those concerns, that they were doing everything they could to facilitate submission of dossiers supporting additions to the lists of permitted vitamins and minerals in the Directive and that they continued strongly to make the case for a safety-based approach to be taken in proposals on maximum limits.

Food Supplements

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Early-Day Motion 1398 (Food Supplements Regulations).

Melanie Johnson: The Government are firmly committed to the view that, in the interests of consumer choice, the law should allow food supplements that are safe and properly labelled to be freely marketed.
	The lists of permitted nutrients and nutrient sources in the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 can be extended if additions are made to the permitted lists in the annexes to the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC on which the Regulations are based. These annexes remain open pending safety assessment of additional substances. Industry is currently working to compile safety dossiers for some of the substances currently omitted from the Annexes.
	The Food Standards Agency, in recognition of the difficulties associated with dossier production, and the timescale for dossier submission, is pressing the European Food Safety Authority for an urgent, substantive meeting with relevant parties to discuss dossier requirements. This has the support of the European Commission.
	Further, the Government's view is that maximum limits for nutrients in food supplements should be based on thorough risk assessments and set at levels which protect public health, but which neither unnecessarily limit consumer choice nor unduly restrict trade. The Government continue to take every opportunity to press this view strongly in Brussels and bilaterally with representatives of other European Union member states.
	The Government recognise concerns expressed in various quarters over the impact of the Directive on consumer choice and the United Kingdom food supplements industry. However, the UK is obliged to fulfil its obligations, under the EC treaty, to implement the Directive. Not to do so would be a serious breach of those obligations and would result in infraction proceedings against the UK and the likelihood of heavy fines. Ultimately, the UK would be forced to implement.

Health Bodies (Dorset/Somerset/Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many posts are filled at the (a) Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority and (b) Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust.

Rosie Winterton: Information about posts filled at the Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority and Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust as at September 2002 is shown in table.
	
		NHS Workforce for Dorset and Somerset StHA and Taunton Deane PCT, as at 30 September 2002 -- Numbers (headcount)
		
			  All Staff of which:Medical and dental staff(35)Non-medical staff(36)General Medical Practitioners(37)Practice staff(38) 
		
		
			 Dorset and Somerset StHA area total 28,134 1,355 22,722 939 3,118 
			 of which staff working directly in:  
			 Dorset and Somerset StHA 98 — 98 — — 
			 of which:  
			 Taunton Deane PCT 771 8 290 81 400 
			 of which staff working directly in:  
			 Taunton Deane PCT 290 — 290 — — 
		
	
	(35) Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals
	(36) Non-medical staff includes Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (including learners), Health Care assistants, Scientific Therapeutic and technical staff and Management and support staff
	(37) All Practitioners include General Medical Services (CMS) Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other and GP Retainers
	(38) Practice Staff includes Practice Nurses, Direct Patient Care, Admin and Clerical and Other
	Sources:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census

Heathrow

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on health of a third runway at Heathrow; and whether his Department has submitted a response to the consultation on the future development of air services in the UK.

Melanie Johnson: The Department of Health has not made an assessment of the possible impact on health of a third runway at Heathrow.
	Departmental officials have been involved in an integrated policy appraisal of the proposal expansion: this is ongoing.

NHS Services (Gloucestershire)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS deficits in Gloucestershire.

Rosie Winterton: The National Health Service must live within the funding made available. NHS organisations that over-spend should and must repay those organisations that have had to forgo the resources used to fund over-spends.
	We fully recognise that some individual health bodies are facing financial pressures. Local circumstances may allow the phased recovery of deficits over a number of years.Any such arrangements would have to be subject to the agreement of local providers, commissioners and the managing strategic health authority.
	The audited information in respect of the financial performance of NHS organisations for 2002–03 will be published in their individual annual accounts.

Organ Transplants

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's policy is on the use of animals to provide organs for humans.

Rosie Winterton: The United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA) was established in 1997 to advise the Government on the acceptability of specific applications to undertake Xenotransplantation procedures (the transplantation of live cells, tissues and organs from a non-human source into a human), it also acts as a focal point for Xenotransplantation issues. Organisations undertaking research into Xenotransplantation in the UK are required to comply with all relevant legislation. Noclinical trials involving humans have yet been approved in the UK and currently no relevant organ transplant research is licensed in the UK under the Animals (Science Procedures) Act 1986.

Tooth Decay

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts and groups have met the national target for tooth decay in children.

Rosie Winterton: The two national targets for tooth decay in children aged five years are:
	A reduction in the average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) to 1.0 teeth by 2003.
	An increase in the proportion of children with no caries experience to 70 per cent., by 2003.
	The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry carries out a survey of the dental health of five year old children every second year. The latest survey is for 2001–02. Results are available for 220 out of 304 primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The PCTs in England which have met either or both of the national targets in 2001–02 are shown in the table.
	
		PCTs meeting tooth decay targets for 2003 in 2001–02—England
		
			 PCT (39)Target 1 (40)Target 2 
		
		
			 Daventry 0.49 78.8 
			 Cannock Chase 0.52 78.6 
			 West Lincolnshire 0.56 80.1 
			 Redditch and Bromsgrove 0.57 77.9 
			 Southwest Lincolnshire 0.58 77.0 
			 Swindon 0.59 76.6 
			 Maidstone and South West Kent 0.62 75.8 
			 East Staffordshire 0.62 78.7 
			 South East Oxfordshire 0.62 78.8 
			 South West Staffordshire 0.63 78.3 
			 North Warwickshire 0.64 75.3 
			 Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth 0.64 75.7 
			 Castle and Beacon 0.64 76.4 
			 South Warwickshire 0.65 74.9 
			 Dudley South 0.69 74.4 
			 Rugby 0.69 75.0 
			 Bedfordshire Heartlands 0.73 75.6 
			 Maidstone and Mailing 0.77 72.0 
			 Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire 0.78 70.3 
			 South Birmingham 0.78 73.7 
			 Wokingham(41) 0.80 68.2 
			 Melton Rutland and Harborough 0.80 74.3 
			 Canterbury and Coastal 0.81 72.6 
			 Solihull 0.81 73.2 
			 Erewash 0.82 72.1 
			 North East Oxfordshire(41) 0.83 66.7 
			 Ashford(41) 0.83 67.0 
			 Bassetlaw(41) 0.83 68.7 
			 Dartford Gravesham and Swanley 0.83 70.8 
			 Bracknell 0.83 71.4 
			 South West Oxfordshire(41) 0.84 67.9 
			 Wednesbury and West Bromwich 0.84 72.0 
			 Gedling(41) 0.86 69.8 
			 Rushcliffe 0.86 73.7 
			 Hartlepool 0.86 73.7 
			 South Worcestershire 0.87 72.8 
			 Greater Derby 0.88 71.9 
			 North Birmingham 0.88 73.0 
			 Northampton(41) 0.89 67.1 
			 Suffolk Central and South(41) 0.89 67.5 
			 East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey(41) 0.90 67.3 
			 South Cambridgeshire 0.90 72.7 
			 Rowley Regis and Tipton 0.90 73.1 
			 Maldon and Chelmsford 0.91 71.8 
			 Central Cheshire 0.91 73.0 
			 Havering 0.91 73.5 
			 Coventry(41) 0.93 69.3 
			 Mid Sussex(41) 0.94 69.7 
			 Wolverhampton City 0.94 70.9 
			 Lewisham 0.95 71.6 
			 Northamptonshire Heartlands(41) 0.96 69.8 
			 Winchester(41) 0.97 66.8 
			 Milton Keynes 0.97 70.6 
			 East Cambridgeshire(41) 0.98 67.6 
			 Woking(41) 1.00 65.6 
			 Walsall Area 1.00 72.3 
			 Wycombe(42) 1.02 75.2 
			 Taunton Deane(42) 1.03 70.7 
			 Bedford(42) 1.04 70.7 
			 Southwark(42) 1.17 71.7 
		
	
	(39) Average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (1.0 or less).
	(40) Percentage of children with no caries experience (greater than 70 per cent.)
	(41) Only target 1 met.
	(42) Only target 2 met.
	Note
	The information provided is for the 220 PCTs for which data is complete from the BASCD survey for 2001–02.
	Source
	British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) http://www.dundee.ac.uk/dhsru/bascd/

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Allotments

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring allotments within the application of Policy Planning Guidance 17.

Keith Hill: Allotments are listed within the typology of open space in the Annex of PPG17. Local authorities are required to apply the policies of Policy Planning Guidance Note 17 (PPG 17) to protect all open space of public value.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) fatalities and (b) non-fatal casualties there have been as a result of malicious fires in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The information requested is tabled as follows. 2001 is the most recent year for which data are available.
	
		Fatal and non-fatal casualties in malicious fires, UK, 1997–2001
		
			  Fatal Non-fatal 
		
		
			 1997 117 3,050 
			 1998 111 3,086 
			 1999 114 3,050 
			 2000 109 3,373 
			 2001 (43)93 3,455 
		
	
	(43) Figures on fatalities for 2001 are estimated; data will be finalised as further information is received relating to cause of death.
	Note:
	Data for 2001 are provisional.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many malicious fires there have been in Cornwall in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The information requested is tabled as follows:
	
		Malicious primary fires in Cornwall, 1997–2001
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 347 
			 1998 362 
			 1999 332 
			 2000 425 
			 2001 533 
		
	
	Note:
	Data for 2001 are provisional and the latest year for which data are available.
	Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annual budget of the Arson Control Forum was in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Phil Hope: In 2002/03, the total annual budget of the Arson Control Forum was £1.36 million; in 2003–04 its total budget is £4.10 million.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how often the National Strategy for Arson Reduction working group has met in the last year.

Phil Hope: Members of the National Strategy for Arson Reduction working group are part of the Arson Control Forum's Intervention sub-group which has held four meetings in the last 12 months.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many school arson attacks occurred when pupils were present, in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The information available relates to the number of malicious fires that occurred between 9am and 4pm on weekdays excluding August, between 1997 and 2001 (the most recent year for which data are available). This is shown in the following table.
	
		Malicious primary fires in schools between 9am and 4pm on weekdays excluding August, United Kingdom, 1997–2001
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 263 
			 1998 216 
			 1999 348 
			 2000 270 
			 2001(44) 328 
		
	
	(44) Data for 2001 are provisional.
	Note:
	Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of all intentionally started school fires during school time were started by children aged seven and under, in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The table below shows the percentage of deliberate fires started between 9am and 4pm on weekdays, excluding August, by children under the age of 10 between 1997 and 2001. It is not possible to identify separately fires started by those aged seven and under. 2001 is the latest year for which data are available.
	
		Malicious primary fires in schools between 9am and 4pm on weekdays excluding August, United Kingdom, 1997–2001
		
			  Total fires Percentage caused by child under 10 
		
		
			 1997 263 19 (50 fires) 
			 1998 216 25 (55 fires) 
			 1999 348 24 (85 fires) 
			 2000 270 22 (59 fires) 
			 2001(45) 328 15 (49 fires) 
		
	
	(45) Data for 2001 are provisional.
	Note:
	Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of deliberately started school fires which occurred internally were started (a) in a cloakroom, (b) in classrooms and (c) in storage rooms, in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The information requested is shown in the following table. 2001 is the most recent year for which data are available.
	
		Malicious primary fires in schools by use of room, UK, 1997–2001
		
			   Cloakroom or lavatory Classroom Store room or area All other or unspecified 
			  Total Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1997 1,066 142 13 279 26 120 11 525 49 
			 1998 856 140 16 199 23 109 13 408 48 
			 1999 1,018 179 18 287 28 114 11 438 43 
			 2000 882 172 20 206 23 98 11 406 46 
			 2001 1,040 174 17 197 19 122 12 547 53 
		
	
	Notes:
	Data for 2001 are provisional
	Due to rounding, percentage totals may not sum to 100 per cent.
	It is not possible to further break down the cloakroom/lavatory category

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of individuals were responsible for intentionally starting school fires under the age of 18, when pupils were present, in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The following table shows the percentage of persons under 18 responsible for starting malicious school fires between 9am and 4pm on weekdays excluding August, between 1997 and 2001. 2001 is the latest year for which data are available.
	
		Malicious primary fires in schools between 9am—4pm on weekdays excluding August by persons under 18 as a percentage of all persons under 18, United Kingdom, 1997–2001
		
			  Total malicious schooltime fires by persons under 18 Total population under 18 Percentage of under 18s starting fire 
		
		
			 1997 222 13,459,127 0.00165 
			 1998 171 13,443,385 0.00127 
			 1999 291 13,425,441 0.00217 
			 2000 235 13,389,649 0.00176 
			 2001 263 13,345,813 0.00197 
		
	
	Notes:
	Data for 2001 are provisional.
	Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.
	The percentage calculations assume that each individual fire has been started by only one individual and that no individual starts more than one fire.

Brownfield/Greenfield Sites

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what basis the former collieries of Houghton and Grimethorpe in South Yorkshire have been reclassified from brownfield to greenfield sites.

Keith Hill: No collieries in South Yorkshire have been reclassified from brownfield to greenfield sites.

Brownfield/Greenfield Sites

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on reclassifying brownfield land in South Yorkshire to greenfield.

Keith Hill: It is not the policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to reclassify brownfield land in South Yorkshire as greenfield.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority;
	(2)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting;
	(3)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if he will list the legislation by year;
	(4)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention.

Phil Hope: Since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created in May 2002, there have been no occasions when the Department has been involved in voting in the Council of Ministers.

Council Tax

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many properties are eligible for a 50 per cent. council tax rebate; and how many of these are second homes, in each billing authority in England in the current financial year;
	(2)  how much in rebate is provided to (a) those properties entitled to 50 per cent. council tax discount and (b) second homes in each billing authority in England in the current financial year.

Phil Hope: The information requested is available in the Library of the House.
	Properties eligible for the 50 per cent. council tax discount, including second homes, benefit from the discount because their liability for council tax is less than it would otherwise be. There is therefore no reason for providing them with financial assistance as a result being eligible for the discount.
	The council tax income forgone by a local authority as a result of properties in its area being entitled to the 50 per cent. council tax discount is, however, taken into account when calculating the authority's entitlement to revenue support grant.
	The information available in the Library of the House includes estimates of the amounts of council tax income forgone by each billing authority in the current financial year as a result of the 50 per cent. discount. It is not possible to identify how much of these amounts are attributable to second homes. The precise extent to which the income forgone as a result of the 50 per cent. discount is compensated for through revenue support grant could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

County Council Staff

Robert Key: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many employees work for (a) Wiltshire County Council and (b) Salisbury District Council.

Phil Hope: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Council Total headcount(46) Full time equivalent 
		
		
			 Wiltshire county council 11,264 6,831 
			 Salisbury district council 659 599 
		
	
	(46) Includes part-time staff

Government Offices for the Regions

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the function is of the Government Offices for the Regions.

Phil Hope: Government Offices are key agents of Government in the English Regions. Working with regional and local agencies, they are well placed to promote, manage and implement a wide variety of Government programmes. By working with regional development agencies, regional chambers/assemblies, local authorities, and local learning and skills councils they also play a significant role in managing regional and local relationships on behalf of central government.
	Government Offices bring together the activities and interests of 10 Government Departments within a single organisation, as follows:
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
	Regional governance
	Local Government
	Neighbourhood Renewal
	Sustainable Communities (Housing and Planning)
	Urban Policy and Regeneration
	Department for Transport
	Local Transport Plans
	Regional Transport Strategies
	Transport Modelling Studies
	Department of Trade and Industry
	Sponsorship of Regional Development Agencies
	Business input to Neighbourhood Renewal programmes
	Communicating with business
	Regional economic intelligence
	Department for Education and Skills
	School improvement (working with education advisers),
	Links between neighbourhood renewal work and education floor targets
	Adult skills
	Support for Local Learning and Skills Councils
	Positive activities for young people
	Sure Start
	Children's Fund
	Connexions
	Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
	Rural renewal
	Sustainable development
	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	Linking culture, tourism, and sport with other programmes and the New Opportunities Fund
	Home Office
	Crime Reduction programmes
	Community Cohesion
	Drugs Prevention
	Department of Health
	Public health issues
	Promoting engagement between the National Health Service and neighbourhood renewal
	Department for Work and Pensions
	European Social Fund Programme
	Links with Job Centre Plus
	Cabinet Office
	Emergencies
	Links with Regional News Network
	Government Office's are uniquely placed to take a cross-departmental approach to regional and local issues, and to provide a coherent view of the operation of, and interactions between Government programmes. As part of central Government, their role also includes providing a regional perspective to inform the development and evaluation of national policy.

Homelessness

Paul Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless households were in priority need in each year since 1992.

Keith Hill: Estimates of the number of households accepted by local authorities in England as homeless and in priority need are as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 1992 138,740 
			 1993 127,630 
			 1994 118,490 
			 1995 117,490 
			 1996 113,590 
			 1997 102,000 
			 1998 104,630 
			 1999 105,370 
			 2000 111,340 
			 2001 118,560 
			 2002 124,880 
		
	
	Source:
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister PIE quarterly housing returns

Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many socially rented houses have been built in rural areas in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The numbers of registered social landlord and local authority dwellings built in 'rural' local authorities are in the following table.
	
		
			 Year Number of 'social rented' dwellings built in English rural authorities 
		
		
			 1997 4,218 
			 1998 3,459 
			 1999 3,283 
			 2000 3,542 
			 2001 2,924 
			 2002 2,021

Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses there were in the rented sector (a) in total and (b) broken down by region in (i) May 2003 and (ii) May 1997.

Keith Hill: The information available is in the following table.
	
		
			  Rented dwelling stock (000s) at1 April 2002 Rented dwelling stock (000s) at1 April 1997 
		
		
			 North East 399 419 
			 North West 875 927 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 692 718 
			 East Midlands 483 501 
			 West Midlands 651 686 
			 East 611 617 
			 London 1293 1313 
			 South East 819 840 
			 South West 541 558 
			 England 6365 6578

Local Government

Mark Prisk: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what mathematical formula was used in (a) the old standard spending assessment and (b) the new formula spending share to calculate the level of reimbursement received by each local authority in Hertfordshire to compensate for student council tax exemptions;
	(2)  how much each local authority in Hertfordshire (a) lost in council tax per head and (b) received in reimbursement per head through formula spending share, as a result of student council tax exemptions in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04 estimates.

Phil Hope: Under both the standard spending assessment and formula spending share systems, each local authority is compensated for student exemptions from council tax in the calculation of its entitlement to revenue support grant. The calculation does not, however, involve a separate mathematical formula for student exemptions. Student exemptions are, instead, one of several factors affecting the size of a local authority's taxbase, and it is the overall taxbase for the authority that is taken into account in the calculation of revenue support grant.
	More specifically, revenue support grant is calculated as the difference between a local authority's standard spending assessment (or formula spending share) and the sum of its share of redistributed business rates and its assumed council tax income, with the reduction in the taxbase due to student exemptions being taken into account in the calculation of the assumed council tax income. The resulting revenue support grant allocations are then constrained so that the like-for-like increase in formula grant over the previous year is neither below the floor nor above the ceiling.
	The following table shows how much council tax per head of resident population was foregone by each local authority in Hertfordshire in 2002–03 as a result of student council tax exemptions.
	
		£
		
			  Number of class M and N exemptions(47) Council tax income foregone per head 
		
		
			 Hertfordshire County Council 1,550 1.04 
			 Hertfordshire Police 1,550 0.12 
			
			 Broxbourne 32 0.03 
			 Dacorum 53 0.04 
			 East Hertfordshire 195 0.21 
			 Hertsmere 125 0.18 
			 North Hertfordshire 56 0.06 
			 St Albans 126 0.15 
			 Stevenage 88 0.13 
			 Three Rivers 36 0.07 
			 Watford 75 0.19 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 764 1.17 
		
	
	(47) Class M exemptions are for halls of residence provided predominantly for the accommodation of students, and Class N exemptions are for dwellings which are occupied only by students, the foreign spouses of students, or school and college leavers.
	Sources:
	CTBl(s) returns from local authorities and the Registrar General's population estimates.
	The above figures are equivalent to an average of £1.38 revenue foregone per head across Hertfordshire. Comparable figures for 2003–04 are not available because the relevant return for 2003–04 did not request information on the distribution across council tax bands of exempt properties. Assuming a similar distribution across bands as 2002–03 gives an average of about £1.70 revenue foregone per head for 2003–04.
	The precise extent to which the above losses were compensated for through revenue support grant could be calculated only at disproportionate cost. In general terms, however, a local authority spending at the level of its formula spending share is fully compensated for council tax income foregone as a result of council tax discounts and exemptions in the calculation of its entitlement to revenue support grant before the application of floors and ceilings.

Postal Ballots

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many postal ballot papers and what percentage were spoilt during the 2003 local elections, broken down by local authority area; and what plans he has to simplify and standardise postal balloting.

Phil Hope: Information on spoilt postal ballot papers is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	A number of innovative measures for making postal voting easier and more secure were tested in May 2003 local electoral pilots. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will have regard to the Electoral Commission's evaluation of these (to be published at the end of July) and to the Commission's recommendations on voting by post in their recent report, 'Voting for change' before deciding on any steps to simplify and standardise voting by post.

Regional Assemblies

David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimates he has made of the cost of conducting local government re-organisation in (a) the North-East, (b) the North-West and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber following the introduction of regional assemblies; what factors contribute to the cost in each case; and if he will break down the cost in each case by factor.

Phil Hope: It is not possible, at this stage, to make an estimate of the likely costs of re-organisation. This will depend on the number of regions which move to having elected regional assemblies, the precise details of the changes proposed by the Boundary Committee and the preferred option of local electors. At the level of individual authorities, costs and savings will depend partly on decisions taken by the new authorities about the structures they put in place to deliver services and discharge their functions.

Social Housing

Paul Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social houses (a) in England and (b) in Shrewsbury and Atcham are inhabited which have been built using asbestos materials.

Phil Hope: The Statistical Evidence to support the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (published in May 2003 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) estimates that approximately 394,000 flats in England (2 to 3 per cent. of the housing stock) are likely to have significant use of asbestos in construction. Three quarters of these dwellings were built between 1945 and 1980. The buildings most likely to be affected include high rise council estates built in the 1950s.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is unable to provide information on Shrewsbury and Atcham because they do not collect information on specific areas.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

House of Lords Reform

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he expects to reply to the Second Report of the Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform, HC 668, session 2002–03.

Christopher Leslie: The Government intends to reply to the Second Report of the Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform shortly.

Lord Chancellor's Department

Gregory Barker: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State if he will list the performance targets that (a) the former Lord Chancellor's Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who set it and (ii) who was monitor achievement against it.

David Lammy: My Department has taken over responsibility for the Lord Chancellor's Department's Public Service Agreement targets, which were agreed as part of the Spending Review and published in the Spending Review 2002: Public Service Agreements 2003–06 (Cm 5571). The Department monitors progress towards the targets, along with The Treasury and the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, and progress is reported regularly.
	Targets for the National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office) are set out in their Corporate Plan 2003–04 to 2005–06; for Her Majesty's Land Registry in their Strategic Plan 2003–04 to 2012–13; and for the Northern Ireland Court Service in their Corporate Plan 2003–06. Targets for the Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office can be found in the Court Service Business Plan 2002–03 and Public Guardianship Office Corporate and Business Plan 2002–05 respectively and, for the Legal Services Commission, in their Corporate Plan 2002–03 to 2003–04. Targets are agreed between the Department and the agency/non-departmental public body concerned. Achievement against the targets is monitored by the Department, by various means including meetings between the Secretary of State and the relevant Chief Executive.

Special European Council

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to take forward conclusions reached at the Special European Council in Tampere in October 1999.

David Lammy: Following the Presidency conclusions arising from the Tampere European Council, the Department has been keen to support the development of civil judicial co-operation on the basis of mutual recognition.
	We are actively co-operating with the EU in taking forward its civil judgment enforcement programme: we are currently finalising agreement on a European Enforcement Order for uncontested claims and conducting negotiations pursuant to the Commission's Green Paper on small claims and a European Payment Order. We expect further items on that programme will be brought forward in the near future, including a European system for attachment of bank accounts (to prevent the removal of funds which may be the subject of a judgment).
	We are supporting work to improve cross-border arrangements in the field of family law, and in particular, extending the principle of mutual recognition to all decisions on parental responsibility, by establishing clear rules for attributing jurisdiction and proper arrangements for co-operation between national courts and authorities. This will greatly benefit families where there are cross-border disputes concerning children. Negotiations on the Parental Responsibility Regulation are nearing completion and steps on mutual recognition in the field of wills and succession will follow in 2004.
	Also in 2004, we expect close co-operation with the Commission in taking forward work on alternative means of dispute resolution, in which field the UK has considerable expertise.
	We will continue to lay stress on the principle of mutual recognition. We wish to ensure, as the EU grows and develops, that respect is maintained for the separate traditions of individual member states, and we are conscious of having a significant asset in our common law system. This has been, and will remain, central to our input into such issues as the Commission's Action Plan on the convergence of contract law.

Supreme Court

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Law Lords, (b) the judiciary in Scotland, (c) the Law Society of Scotland and (d) the Faculty of Advocates about the proposals for a Supreme Court.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State will be publishing a consultation paper on his proposals for a Supreme Court on 14 July 2003. We shall be consulting widely on those proposals, including with members of the legal profession in Scotland.